Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Barrackpore-743 101, West Bengal (India).
*Present address: Sunnhemp Research Station (C.R.I.J.A.F.), Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Pratapgarh-230 001 (U.P.).
Effect of yellow mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus Bank, infestation on the quantitative change of micronutrients, viz, Zn and Cu in the leaves of five olitorius varieties (JRO 524, JRO 7835, JRO 878, JRO 36E and JRO 632) was studied. JRO 524 was found to be the most tolerant to mite infestation, whereas JRO 36E and JRO 632 were susceptible in nature. Healthy leaves of JRO 524 had significantly more (42.39%) Zn than that of JRO 36E. On an average, the infested leaves contained 10% less Zn, while the infested leaves contained 10% more copper than the healthy ones. Varieties significantly differed in Zn and Cu content but no significant difference was observed between healthy and infested leaves. The interactiqn between variety and infestion was not significant in the case of Zn, but was significant for Cu.
