SHOOT DAMAGES IN DENDROCALAMUS STRICTUS NEES GIGANTOCHLOA HASSKARLIANA BACK. EX K. HEYNE CAUSED BY CYRTOTRACHELUS SP. AND DRIED OUT DISEASE

Abstract

Dendrocalamus strictus Nees and Gigantochloa hasskarliana Back. ex K. Heyne are the main bamboo species in Thongpaphoom, Kanchanaburi province. Bamboo is mostly useful in many ways, directly and indirectly. Study on shoot damages in D. strictus and G. hasskarliana caused by the weevil (Cyrtotrachelus sp.) was done from May to September 1989. Sixty clumps within the area of 30 rai (4.8 ha.) were marked, the number of shoots emerged from the ground level up to the height of 3 m. was counted and the damages caused by weevil and diseases were recorded. The average shoots produced by D. strictus and G. hasskarliana were 7.80 and 10.85 shoot/clump, respectively. It was found that 18.6% of D. strictus shoots and 56.8% of G. hasskarliana shoots were free from the attack of the weevil and disease. Disease caused 76.3% of shoot dried out in D. strictus and 21.7% in G. hasskarliana. Thinning of clump may reduce the loss from the weevil and disease.