CHARACTERIZATION AND DAMAGE PATTERNS OF DIFFERENT BARK BEETLE SPECIES ASSOCIATED WITH MANGO SUDDEN DEATH SYNDROME IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Mango Sudden Death Syndrome (MSDS) is a very serious disease and apparently healthy looking tree collapses within few days. Bark beetles are mostly associated with sudden death diseased trees of mango in both provinces i.e. Punjab and Sindh. The orchards in eastern and western Multan had the maximum number of bark beetle attack as compared to northern and southern areas. Four different bark beetle species were found frequently present in mango trees infected with Sudden death disease. The four beetle species were characterized upto family and genera levels. It was observed that the bark beetle, Hypocryphalus mangiferae was most frequently found in diseased mango trees in early stages while Xyleborus sp. appeared in later stages but comparatively less in number. Sinoxylon sp. was only found in the wood of dead and dying trees. Nitidulid sp. was found occasionally on dried diseased trees. All the species made the holes of various sizes in tree trunk and made galleries of different shapes and sizes beneath the bark except Sinoxylon sp. which made longitudinal tunnels in trunk.