Effect of the leaf coating mite Cisaberoptus kenyae Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) on the mineral content of the host mango plant Mangiferae indica L.
Abou-Awad B., Al-Azzazy M. M., Afia S. I.
Author Affiliation: Plant Protection Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.
Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection 45 : 16-21
Abstract : The effect of the feeding of the leaf coating mite Cisaberoptus kenyae Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) on the mineral content of mango leaves (Mangiferae indica L.) was studied. The research was carried out on two mango cultivars: Hindi and Alphonso as host plants. Nutrients were estimated in fresh plant material in control (healthy leaves) and lightly and highly infested leaves of each tested cultivar. The highest concentration of minerals was noticed in the healthy leaves. No significant differences were found in most total level of macro and micro nutrient contents between lightly infested and healthy leaves of both cultivars. The high decrease of all minerals was recorded in the injured Alphonso leaves followed by Hendi leaves when compared with the mineral concentrations of the fresh leaves. The coating eriophyid mite C. kenyae had the strongest influence on the macro-and micronutrients of its host plants.