POD FLY (MELANAGROMYZA OBTUSA) IS THE MAJOR THREAT IN SEED PRODUCTION OF FLEMINGIA SEMIALATA - AN EMERGING HOST FOR LAC CULTIVATION

The livelihood of many tribal farmers in the Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh in India depends on the lac cultivation. Traditionally, these tribal farmers cultivate lac on naturally occurring host plants (Kusum, Palas and Ber), but recently, they have also started cultivating it on Flemingia semialata plants. F. semialata is the most suitable host for lac insects in terms of intensive lac cultivation on a plantation basis. It has increased the area under F. semialata plantation and the demand for F. semialata seed. However, this shift has also brought about some challenges, including the infestation of Melanagromyza obtusa in F. semialata seeds. The level of infestation caused by pod fly M. obtusa was, therefore, studied in the lac production unit of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak. The results revealed that M. obtusa damaged 94.2% of pods and 80.55% of seeds. It highlights the severity of the issue and considers M. obtusa a major threat in the seed production of F. semialata.. KEYWORDS :Lac insect, Lac production, Pod fly, Seed damage, Winged flemingia