Morphological-biochemical-physiological traits assisted selection for kusmi lac production on ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.) varieties

Abstract

Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.) is a common lac host for kusmi and rangeeni strain of Kerria lacca. In the present study, morphological, biochemical and physiological traits of 23 ber cultivars / varieties were analyzed during 2011-12 and 2012-13 to identify traits for high lac production under rainfed growing areas. Ber varieties were significantly different for morphological, biochemical and physiological traits. Canopy, shape, branching pattern of tree (morphological traits); initial settlement density, mean settlement length and sex ratio (among lac attributing traits); total sugars, soluble protein and chlorophyll content index (among biochemical and physiological traits) had significant association with scrapedlac. Best sub-set regression using R2 for scrapedlac revealed that only sex ratio has predicted 62% of scrapedlac yield. Four traits, viz., canopy and branching pattern of tree, sex ratio of lac insect and soluble protein in leaves of ber varieties were able to assess it up to 67% and these traits may be used as marker, while selecting host ber varieties for kusmi lac production. Based on these parameters, out of 23 ber varieties four (Kaithali, Jogia, Seb × Gola (F1 ) and Banarasi Karaka) were identified as promising for lac cultivation in rainfed regions of Jharkhand.