The Latest Control Methods for Common Pests and Diseases of Shatang Mandarin
Shatang mandarin is a premium variety of citrus with extremely high nutritional value and is hugely popular with consumers on the market. However, if management is improper during the growing process, a variety of pests and diseases can appear, seriously affecting quality and yield. So what are the main pests and diseases of Shatang mandarin? Let's take a look.
1. Citrus canker
It occurs year-round and mainly harms leaves, twigs and fruit. After infection, it causes leaf drop and fruit drop; in severe cases the twigs die off and the fruit rots in large quantities.
Control method: When clearing the orchard in winter, thoroughly remove diseased branches and leaves; when the disease occurs in summer, also remove diseased branches and leaves. During the shoot-flushing periods in spring, summer and autumn, before the leaves unfold, spray Tuzet (thiram) or Topsin (thiophanate-methyl) for control.
2. Anthracnose
Anthracnose can be divided into acute and chronic forms. It generally occurs from April to August and can harm leaves, twigs and fruit, with symptoms differing among the various parts. When leaves are infected, brown lesions appear and they gradually wither and drop off; when twigs are infected, they gradually curl and dry out, and the diseased bark dries and peels off; when fruit is infected, the diseased fruit rots and turns black, shrivels into a mummified fruit, and either hangs on the tree without dropping or falls off.
Control method: Strengthen fertilizer and water management, apply supplementary fertilizer reasonably, and increase the plant's disease resistance. Do a good job of orchard clearing, burning or deeply burying diseased branches and fallen leaves in a centralized way, and then comprehensively spray lime-sulfur mixture to disinfect and sterilize. When the disease occurs, spray Bordeaux mixture, Tuzet (thiram), carbendazim and other agents for control, with good results.
3. Huanglongbing (citrus greening disease)
Huanglongbing is not only a common disease of Shatang mandarin but also a common disease of citrus fruit trees. When this disease occurs, in addition to yellow shoots, it also has very obvious characteristics: yellowing at the base or edges of leaves, with irregular mottled leaves showing alternating yellow and green.
Control method: The transmission route of this disease is the Asian citrus psyllid, so to control this disease, the Asian citrus psyllid must first be controlled. During the young shoot period, spray omethoate, imidacloprid (Yashijing) and other agents for control. In addition, diseased plants should be removed promptly when found to eliminate the source of the pathogen.
4. Insect pests
The insect pests of Shatang mandarin include mites, scale insects, longhorn beetles, as well as aphids and leaf miners. They bore into and feed on the plants, constantly gnawing on the tender parts of the plants or sucking sap, causing the plants to grow weakly and affecting yield and quality, with enormous harm.
Control method: The control of insect pests should combine agricultural control, physical control and chemical control, and can include manual capture, trapping and chemical spraying.
The above are the control methods for common pests and diseases of Shatang mandarin. We hope they can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please follow us.