Gall-induced stress in the leaves of Terminalia arjuna, food plant of tropical<br>tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta

Abstract

Tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta Drury is reared on one of the important food plants, Terminalia arjuna(Arjun). Leaf gall Trioza fletcheri minor (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) is the most important gall forming insect on theleaves which has bearing on productive traits of tasar silkworm. Gall formation is the consequence ofinteraction between the offensive stimulus of the insect and the defensive response of the plant. Hence, thestress on Arjun leaves imparted due to gall formation was studied. There was significant decrease inphotosynthesis rate (P