In Vitro Rearing and Gallery Tunnelling Pattern of Island Pinhole Borer, Xyleborus perforans (Wollaston), A Scolytid Associated with Pomegranate Wilt Complex

Wilt, a devastating disease in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) plantations causes complete death of young and old plants alike. This disease has become a threat to crop cultivation across the major pomegranate- growing countries like India, China, Iran and Greece, posing a potential crisis for farmers. Wilt-affected plants exhibit gradual yellowing, drying of leaves in a particular branch that spreads to others, leading to dieback and finally the infected plant dies within the next few weeks^1,2. Pioneering studies have revealed that this disease shows symptoms caused by many contributing biotic and abiotic factors. Several biotic factors like fungal pathogens (viz. Ceratocystis fimbriata, Fusarium spp., Macrophomina phaseolina, Phytophthora spp., Rhizoctonia bataticola, Rosellenia necatrix, Verticillium dahliae), insects (scolytid beetle, Xyleborus perforans (Wollaston)) and nematodes (ischolar_main-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita) were found to play a crucial role in disease progression³.