Rubber plantations in Kerala have been under threat since an ambrosia beetle-fungus alliance has been attacking trees, causing severe leaf fall and rapid drying.
About Ambrosia beetle:
Ambrosia beetles get their name from the ambrosia fungi that call the beetle their home. The name ‘ambrosia’ is not taxonomic but ecological.
These beetles are native to Central and South America.
They were first reportedin India in the cashew trees of Ponda, Goa, in 2012.
The beetle has been reported to share a mutualistic relationship with two fungal species, Fusarium ambrosia and Fusarium solani.
How it affects Rubber Tree
These beetles attack dead or infected trees, although they’re also known to attack stressed trees.
At times, the stressed trees release ethanol, a volatile compound that the ambrosia beetles can sense and attack.
The beetles don’t feed on the woody bark of trees; the fungi do.
The beetles bore tunnels called galleries in the bark, carry fungi into the galleries, and farm the fungi to concentrate nutrients.
The beetles and their larvae feed on nutrient-rich fungal mycelia. The fungi also release enzymes that weaken the wood, allowing beetles to penetrate deeper.
In other insect hosts, the fungi are present in sacs called mycangia.
The beetle-fungus association harms trees in many ways. Aside from weakening the structure, the duo causes severe leaf fall, trunk drying, and in some cases even tree death. The infection also affects total latex production from rubber trees, causing economic and agricultural losses.
Prevention Techniques: To combat the infection, experts follow specific methods, such as using antifungal agents, removing the infected part of trees, burning or chipping away any part that displays holes, and preventive measures such as using traps for ambrosia beetles.
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