~ 213 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2014; 2 (6): 213-216 ISSN 2320-7078 JEZS 2014; 2 (6): 213-216 © 2014 JEZS Received: 24-10-2014 Accepted: 15-11-2014 Muhammad Mustafa Department of plant pathology, university of agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. M. Imran Directorate of Agriculture, Pest Warning & Quality Control of Pesticides, Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Amer Rasool Directorate of Agriculture, Pest Warning & Quality Control of Pesticides, Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. M. Azeem Department of Soil Science, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, 46300, Pakistan. Adnan Riaz Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation. The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia. M. Afzal Directorate of Agriculture, Pest Warning & Quality Control of Pesticides, Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Correspondence: M. Imran Directorate of Agriculture, Pest Warning & Quality Control of Pesticides, Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Evaluation of commercial citrus cultivars for resistance to citrus leaf miner and its management Muhammad Mustafa, M. Imran, Amer Rasool, M. Azeem, Adnan Riaz and M. Afzal Abstract To combat the problem of citrus leaf miner (CLM) which is the one of the important cause of Canker disease development, a study was conducted in research area of the Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 2008-09. Fifteen commercial citrus varieties were screened to find out degree of resistance. Kinnow exhibited the resistant response against CLM attack. Blood red and Mayer developed high CLM populations. Pine apple, mungal singh, jaffa and succari were moderately susceptible to CLM attack, whereas tangerine, malta valentia late, feutral’s early, china lemon, grapefruit musambi and sweet lemon showed susceptible response against CLM infestation. Plant extracts Withania somnifera (Aksin), Achyranthes aspera (Akk) and pesticide (Fon 75%WP used to manage the citrus leaf miner under field conditions on these fifteen citrus varieties. The most effective combination was Fon at .3g/l plus Achyranthes aspera at 7.5% against CLM infestation as 17.37 f mean value of CLM incidence as compared to control value 38.74a. Keywords: infestation, pesticides, plant extracts, screening, susceptible. 1. Introduction In Pakistan, Citrus has an important value as fruit plant. The present day citrus is delecz, juicy, and seedless and of great nutritional significance as well [10] . Citrus is a member of Rutaceae family and grown in varying densities in countries with tropical or subtropical climates. The most delicious and edible varieties of citrus are Kinnow, Pine apple, Valencia late, Grape fruit, Blood red, Chinese lime, Mayer lime, Sweet lime, Fuetrell's early, Jaffa, Succari, Tangrin, Mungal Singh, and Musambi are included. It is used as best source of Vitamin C, sugars, amino acids and other nutrients [2] . Pakistan has versatile climatic conditions and nearly all types of fruits might be produced successfully. A large area of Pakistan has sub- tropical and tropical climate. Citrus is one of the most important productive and highly profitable fruit crop but unfortunately its present status is threatened by a number of problems including low production induced by pests. Of all the agricultural pests and diseases that threaten citrus crop, citrus leaf miner (CLM), Phyllocnistis citrella is one of the major pests which adversely affects plant health and fruit development and enhances the development of canker disease. The CLM is a pest of citrus, which has undergone a very rapid range expansion during the last ten years [12] . The intensity of the citrus canker disease increased with that of injuries caused by CLM. The symptoms of the citrus canker disease appeared more rapidly, the ratio of plant disease and the incidence were higher, and plants remained susceptible for long period. These factors explained the association between the intensity of the disease symptoms and injuries caused by the insect [1] . Exposure of leaf mesophyll during feeding allowed direct penetration of Xac into leaf tissue. Also CLM larvae became contaminated with bacteria, disseminating them through feeding galleries [8, 5] . The feeding activities of CLM that enhance the bacterial infection. These are tearing of the cuticle opened the mesophyll of the leaf to direct bacterial infection. When splash-dispersed or windblown rain dispersed bacteria came in contact with the leaf surface. CLM wounds healed more slowly than mechanical wounds, allowing a longer periods of exposure for bacterial infection; and CLM larvae were contaminated with bacteria and transported them through feeding galleries [1] . Keeping in view the great economic importance of citrus canker disease and its vector CLM, citrus cultivars are needed to be screened under natural field conditions against CLM.