How to control common pests and diseases of Ponkan mandarin? Latest methods explained
Ponkan mandarin is a very popular citrus variety, and its market demand in our country is very large. At present, Ponkan mandarin is grown in most southern provinces. Although Ponkan mandarin has strong growth ability and relatively high yield, it is often troubled by pests and diseases during the planting process. So what are the common pests and diseases of Ponkan mandarin? Below, the editor will give you a brief introduction. Let's take a look together!
1. Anthracnose
Anthracnose is a disease that occurs in most fruit trees. It can have a great impact on the yield and fruit quality of Ponkan mandarin. During planting, management work must be strengthened, and nitrogen fertilizer should not be applied excessively. During the sprouting of spring and summer shoots and before the fruit ripens, appropriate spraying should be carried out for prevention. Fungicides such as mancozeb and chlorothalonil can be selected. Mainly spray the canopy of Ponkan mandarin, generally once every half month, for about two months, and it can be effectively prevented.
2. Foot rot
Foot rot is also a common disease of Ponkan mandarin. Foot rot should focus on prevention, avoid excessive water accumulation in the field, and do a good job in drainage. Then prune appropriately to improve the ventilation in the orchard, and also strengthen the control of insect pests to avoid carrying pathogens. During planting, it is best to use rootstocks made from trees with strong disease resistance, such as Carrizo citrange, for grafting. For plants that have already developed the disease, this rootstock can also be used for replacement. After the disease occurs, the diseased spots should be scraped off in time, and chemicals such as thiophanate-methyl should be sprayed for control.
3. Mite pests
Common mite pests of Ponkan mandarin include red spider mites, etc. Generally, after Ponkan mandarin blooms in April each year and around October are the times when red spider mite damage is most serious. Before flowering, when the pest population density reaches two per month, and after flowering and in autumn when it reaches 5 per leaf, timely control should be carried out. Among the chemicals that can be used are hexythiazox, bromopropylate, etc. Among them, protection work can be done well for natural enemies such as long-seta mites.
4. Scale insect pests
Scale insect pests include red wax scale, cottony cushion scale, etc. We should often observe the growth of Ponkan mandarin. During the larval stage of red wax scale, when large numbers climb onto the shoots, it is the most serious damage period. Cottony cushion scale is also a high-incidence period during the larval stage, harming the branches and fruits of Ponkan mandarin, and it will also have a very large impact on the fruit trees. We can use chemicals such as methidathion, chlorpyrifos, and buprofezin. Then improve the ventilation in the orchard and do a good job in protecting natural enemies of scale insect pests, such as the red ladybird beetle.
The above is a brief introduction to the control of common pests and diseases of Ponkan mandarin. In addition to the above, there are also leafminers, aphids, etc., all of which require our special attention. If controlled improperly, the harm they cause is very great, so everyone must pay more attention. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you for reading and supporting.