PREDICTION MODELS OF NANTUCKET PINE TIP MOTH, RHYACIONIA-FRUSTRANA (COMSTOCK) (LEP., TORTRICIDAE) INFESTATION USING SOIL AND TREE FACTORS

Prediction models for estimating infestations by Nantucket pine tip mo th (NPTM), Rhyacionia frustrana (Comstock) in young loblolly pine plan tations in East Texas were developed using multivariate regression ana lysis based on selected soil and tree factors. Results of regression m odels show that foliage nutrients, tree water potential and tree heigh t play important roles in NPTM infestation. Overall, these factors pre dict whole tree infestation better than top two whorls infestation. Th e importance and correlation of the factors differed for the predictio n model of top two whorl and whole tree infestations.