Scholarlink

<p>Lac, a natural resin of significant economic value, is secreted by the lac insect <i>Kerria lacca</i>. This insect thrives on specific host plants, including ber (<i>Ziziphus mauritiana</i>). In tribal regions, lac cultivation is an important source of income. Pruning is a key agronomic practice that influences shoot growth, which in turn affects lac insect settlement and resin production. This study investigated the effects of two seasonal pruning schedules—February (for the winter <i>Kusmi</i> crop) and October (for the rainy season <i>Rangeeni</i> crop)—on shoot development and lac yield across 23 ber varieties. A factorial randomized block design (RBD) with three replications was used. February pruning significantly enhanced shoot regeneration, resulting in a 58% increase in shoot number and a 9% higher <i>Kusmi</i> lac yield compared to October pruning. A strong negative correlation was found between average shoot diameter and broodlac yield (r = − 0.798 for February), indicating that finer shoots are more conducive to lac insect settlement. We conclude that February pruning optimizes lac production by promoting more and finer shoots. Both genetic (varietal choice) and environmental (pruning season) factors significantly influence lac yield. These results underscore the critical role of pruning timing in optimizing lac productivity. Integrating fruit-bearing ber varieties into lac-based agroforestry systems (silvi-agri-lac model) provides dual economic benefits from resin and fruit, enhancing resilience for farmers.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Effect of seasonal pruning on shoot growth and lac yield in different varieties of ber (Ziziphus mauritiana)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月28日

查看全文
  • Jyotirmoy Ghosh,
  • Soumen Ghosal,
  • Vaibhav D. Lohot,
  • Nawalesh K. Sinha

摘要

Lac, a natural resin of significant economic value, is secreted by the lac insect Kerria lacca. This insect thrives on specific host plants, including ber (Ziziphus mauritiana). In tribal regions, lac cultivation is an important source of income. Pruning is a key agronomic practice that influences shoot growth, which in turn affects lac insect settlement and resin production. This study investigated the effects of two seasonal pruning schedules—February (for the winter Kusmi crop) and October (for the rainy season Rangeeni crop)—on shoot development and lac yield across 23 ber varieties. A factorial randomized block design (RBD) with three replications was used. February pruning significantly enhanced shoot regeneration, resulting in a 58% increase in shoot number and a 9% higher Kusmi lac yield compared to October pruning. A strong negative correlation was found between average shoot diameter and broodlac yield (r = − 0.798 for February), indicating that finer shoots are more conducive to lac insect settlement. We conclude that February pruning optimizes lac production by promoting more and finer shoots. Both genetic (varietal choice) and environmental (pruning season) factors significantly influence lac yield. These results underscore the critical role of pruning timing in optimizing lac productivity. Integrating fruit-bearing ber varieties into lac-based agroforestry systems (silvi-agri-lac model) provides dual economic benefits from resin and fruit, enhancing resilience for farmers.