Effect of Seasonal Pruning on Shoot Growth and Lac Yield in Different Varieties of Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana)

Lac, a natural resin of considerable economic value, is secreted by the tiny insect Kerria lacca , which thrives on selected host plants. Among these, fruit-bearing ber ( Ziziphus mauritiana ) varieties play a pivotal role, particularly in tribal regions where lac cultivation significantly supports rural livelihoods. Pruning is a crucial agronomic intervention that affects shoot growth characteristics, which in turn influence lac insect settlement and resin production. This study investigates the effect of two seasonal pruning schedules—February (for winter Kusmi crop) and October (for rainy season Rangeeni crop)—on shoot development and lac yield across 23 ber varieties. Experiment was conducted during 2020–21 and it followed a randomized block design in factorial mode (RBD), considering pruning time and ber variety as factors, with Kusmi and Rangeeni lac yields and morphological traits as variables, replicated thrice. Each block included all pruning × variety combinations in a randomized layout. Results indicated that February pruning significantly improved shoot regeneration, showing a 58% increase in shoot number, and yielded 9% more Kusmi lac compared to October pruning. A strong inverse correlation was found between average shoot diameter and broodlac yield (r = − 0.798 for February and 0.360 for October), suggesting that finer shoots are more conducive to lac insect settlement. These findings highlight the importance of optimal pruning timing to enhance lac productivity and demonstrate that integrating fruit-bearing ber varieties into lac-based agroforestry systems offers dual economic benefits—resin and fruit—providing resilience even in years of lac crop failure. Both genetic (varietal traits) and environmental (seasonal) factors were found to significantly affect lac insect development and resin yield.