What Pests and Diseases Affect Pomegranate Trees? A Detailed Guide to Types and Control Methods

Pomegranate is a nutrient-rich fruit with a very high vitamin C content, and it is grown in every part of our country, so what exactly are the types of pomegranate tree pests and diseases and their control methods?

1. Growth Characteristics of Pomegranate

The pomegranate is native to the Balkan Peninsula, Iran and adjacent regions, and it is grown in temperate and tropical zones worldwide.

The pomegranate is a deciduous shrub or small tree, and in the tropics it is an evergreen tree. The crown is thicket-like and naturally round-headed. The roots are yellowish-brown. It grows vigorously and readily produces root suckers at the root zone. The tree can reach 5-7 m in height, generally 3-4 m, but dwarf pomegranates grow only about 1 m tall or even shorter. The trunk is grayish-brown with tumor-like protrusions, and the trunk is mostly twisted to the left.

It generally grows on mountains at an altitude of 300-1000 m. It prefers a warm, sunny environment, is drought-tolerant, cold-tolerant, and also tolerant of poor soil, but not tolerant of waterlogging or shade. It is not demanding about soil, but sandy loam with good drainage is best for cultivation.

2. Types of Pomegranate Tree Pests and Diseases and Their Control Methods

1. Dry rot

This is a disease caused by pathogenic fungi, and the onset period spans the flowering and fruiting stages. The onset time is mostly concentrated in the rainy season and the subsequent period of higher humidity. In the early stage, brown spots appear on the corolla of the flowers or fruit, then slowly rot and spread, finally covering the entire fruit and flower.

Control method: carbendazim suspension concentrate can be used in an attempt to treat it.

2. Scab

It appears as some scab-like spots on the surface of the pomegranate, which then slowly spread, and the affected area further dries up, until finally the entire fruit turns into a dried lump.

Control method: the pomegranate fruit must be picked off directly, then treated with carbendazim powder;

3. Pomegranate stem window moth

This is a pest that is extremely destructive during its larval stage. The female lays eggs on the branches of the pomegranate tree, and its larvae feed on the sap of the pomegranate branches, seriously affecting the growth of the pomegranate tree. The period of high incidence is generally around July. The early manifestation of the damage is an extremely high death rate of new branches, and in severe cases old branches also die.

Control method: dead and old branches must be cleaned up promptly, then the plant should be sprayed with trichlorfon insecticide.

4. Black spot

When rather many black spots appear on the leaves of the pomegranate tree, and within a period of time after the black spots appear the leaves wither and drop very quickly, this is basically caused by black spot.

Control method: use carbendazim for control.