MANGO RUST MITE Metaculus mangiferae (Attiah) (Acari: Eriophyidae) AS MAIN FACTOR AFFECTING THE LEAF MINERAL CONTENT OF THE MANGO TREES Mangiferae indica L.

The effect of the feeding of the mango rust mite Metaculus mangiferae (Attiah) (Acari: Eriophyidae) on the mineral content of mango leaves Mangiferae indica L.(Anacardiaceae) was studied. The research was carried out on two mango cultivars: Langra and Ewesi as host plants. Nutrients were estimated in fresh plant material in control (healthy leaves ) and lightly and highly infested leaves of each tested cultivar. The highest concentration of minerals was noticed in the healthy leaves. No significant differences were found in most total level of macro and micro nutrient contents between lightly infested and healthy leaves of both cultivars. The high decrease of all minerals was recorded in the injured Ewesi leaves followed by Langra when compared with the fresh material. The mango rust mite M. mangiferae had the strongest influence on the macro- and micronutrients of its host plants M. indica.