Project Code :

Project Title : Comparative Physiology of Temperate and Tropical Wood Borers

Key Words : Biodeterioration, Marine Wood borers

Area of Research : Biodeterioration

Category : CLP-0665

Status : Ongoing

Sponsoring Agency :

Collaborating Agencies : INDO-US

Date of Commencement : October 1995

Date of Completion : October 1998

Estimated Total Cost (RS. in lakhs) : 19,97,000/-

Project Leader : Dr. A.C. Anil

Project Team :

• Dr. S.S.Sawant
• Shri K. Venkat
• Shri N.L.Thakur
• Shri P. Yennawar
• Shri Y. Vishwakiran
• Ms. V. Kamat
• Ms. A. Fernando

Objectives/ Scope of the Project :

i ) Develop systems to culture significant wood borers throughout their life cycles.

ii ) Comprehensive life cycle description.

iii ) Develop methodologies to measure physiological rate processes in significant wood borers in the laboratory and subsequently in the field .

vi ) Examination in selected key field sites of seasonal changes in numbers and quantity of wood borers and their larve present.

Present Status :

i ) Rearing of Nausitora hedleyi through its life cycle.

i ) Rearing of Martesia Striata through its life cycle and evalution of the influences of environmental factors on embryonic and larve development.

iii ) Evalution of incidence of wood boring organisms in the estuarine environment of Goa.

vi ) Biodiversity of wood deteriorating marine fungi in the estuarine environment of Goa .

v ) Evaluation of species specific interaction of marine fungi and Martesia striata larve through rearing experiments.

vi ) Reproductive physiology of Martesia striata and Nausitora hedleyi.

vii ) Nutrition physiology of Nausitora hedleyi.

Work Plan with Phases/ Milestones :

( October, 1995- October 1998 )

i ) Exposure of wooden panels at different stations in the Mandovi and Zuari estuaries.

ii ) Isolation and identification of wood deteriorating fungi and bacteria.

iii ) Rearing of the dominant wood boring organisms at different temperatures and salinity.

Expected S & T Output :

• Technologies : Nil
• Intellectual Property Rights : Nil
• Socio-economic importance : Societal programme
• Scientific importance : Deterioration of wood in the marine environment is a complex event in which diverse organisms such as bacteria, fungi, wood boring crustaceans and molluscs participate. The eventual destruction caused by the wood boring organisms is controlled by events such as preconditioning of wood by bacteria and fungi, the ecology and physiology of wood boring organisms and their larve. This effort examines the species specific induction mechanism and will enable to characterise the basic events of wood destruction.