ROLE OF FOLIAR PROTEIN AND POLYPHENOL AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO CLONAL RESISTANCE IN TEAK AGAINST THE LEAF SKELETONISER, PALIGA MACHOERALIS WALKER (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE)

Abstract

Leaf protein and polyphenol contents were estimated for selected resistant (ORANR-2, ORANR-3, ORANR-4, ORANP-7 and MHSC-A3) and susceptible (APT-8, APT-14, TNT-2 and ORPB-15) clones of teak to the leaf skeletoniser, Paliga machoeralis. The results were correlated with the degree of resistance/susceptibility. The protein and polyphenol contents of clonal leaves were directly and inversely proportional respectively, to the amount of leaf damage. The ratio of protein to polyphenol played a decisive role in determining the degree of resistance. Alow ratio indicates higher resistance and vice versa.