Analysis of mistletoes infestation on urban street trees in the city of Curitiba, PR

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the infestation by mistletoes on urban tress in three sample units in the city of Curitiba. This analysis was made through the identification of the main host species and their hemiparasites and the quantification of the mistletoes infestation level through three methods of assessment described by Girnos et al. (1994), Oliveira; Kappel (1994) and Rotta (2001). Through these samples was confirmed the presence of mistletoes in 28,19% of the trees. Six of them were infested by mistletoes: Acer negundo, Lagerstroemia indica, Ligustrum lucidum, Melia azedarach, Tabebuia chrysotricha e Tipuana tipu, from wich L. lucidum e T. tipu were most affected. The hemiparasites of greater presence were Tripodanthus acutifolius e Struthanthus vulgaris. A high affinity between the host L. lucidum and the hemiparasite T. acutifolius was made evident. Independently of the method used for the quantification of the infestation level, the initial stages of infestation have been most habitual.