PJB-2023-1553
Host range and host preferences of Dendrophthoe falcata and Scurrula pulverulenta (Loranthaceae) in the forests of Potohar and adjacent regions
Rifat Ullah Khan, Kirsty V. Milner, David M. Watson, Alastair W. Robertson and Amir Sultan
Abstract
Host range and host preferences of Dendrophthoe falcata and Scurrula pulverulenta were studied in the Himalayan foothills region of Potohar plateau, Pakistan. Dendrophthoe falcata and S. pulverulenta were recorded in different areas of Rawalpindi-Islamabad districts and at each site in these areas host range of both the mistletoes were recorded. Both mistletoes parasitise a variety of dicotyledonous trees. Although both mistletoes are generalist species, with S. pulverulenta recorded on 37 different hosts and33 hosts recorded for D. falcata, they are most often found on a subset of these. Based on frequency of occurrence, Senegalia modesta is the primary host for D. falcata, Bombax ceiba is the secondary host and Flacourtia indica is the tertiary host, while Olea ferruginea is the primary host for S. pulverulenta, Punica granatum is secondary host and Senegalia modesta, Ficus palmata and Pyrus pashia are tertiary hosts.
To Cite this article:
Khan, R.U., K.V. Milner, D.M. Watson, A.W. Robertson and A. Sultan. 2023. Host range and host preferences of Dendrophthoe falcata and Scurrula pulverulenta (Loranthaceae) in the forests of Potohar and adjacent regions. Pak. J. Bot., 55(4): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2023-4(40)
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