How to control cassava pests and diseases? Latest technical methods tutorial
Cassava is one of the three major tuber crops in China, and it is grown over a fairly wide area in the country, but during cultivation, certain pests and diseases commonly harm its yield and quality. So how should cassava pests and diseases be controlled? Let's take a look.
1. Bacterial wilt
Bacterial wilt, also known as gumming disease, is one of the worldwide diseases of cassava and is extremely difficult to control, mainly harming the stems and leaves of cassava, and in severe cases it can reduce yield by more than 50%. It first infects the leaf margins or leaf tips, producing water-soaked lesions, and the lesions also produce a yellow exudate, then spread from bottom to top, and within a short time spread across the entire leaf, causing the leaves to wilt until the whole plant dies.
Control methods: First, disinfect and sterilize the seed stems. Since there is no specific drug treatment for this disease, prevention is the main approach. Agents such as agricultural streptomycin sulfate and copper hydroxide wettable microparticle powder have a certain inhibitory effect on it and can be used appropriately.
2. Bacterial angular leaf spot
It generally begins to occur in May, and the disease is more severe from August to September. When the disease occurs, water-soaked angular spots appear at the affected sites, mostly scattered in various parts of the leaf, and the lesions secrete a yellow latex-like substance. When it begins to invade the leaf margins, yellow halos appear, which gradually expand and merge, turning dark brown, until the leaves turn yellow and fall off.
Control methods: Choose varieties with strong disease resistance, clear away diseased and residual plants before planting and burn them in a centralized manner, and when diseased plants are found, remove the leaves and spray agents to prevent the disease from spreading.
3. Brown angular leaf spot
It occurs commonly in China and mainly harms the leaves. When the disease occurs, irregular brown lesions appear on both sides of the leaves, and in severe cases they cause the leaves to turn yellow until they dry up and fall off.
Control methods: Similar to the control of bacterial leaf spots, first choose varieties with strong disease resistance, and the seed stems must be disease-free; when found, control must be carried out promptly.
4. Insect pests
Cassava has many insect pests, mainly including mites, thrips, red spider mites, termites and scarab beetles. When insect pests break out, they can cause a sharp drop in yield.
Control methods: When insect pests are found, control them promptly, and comprehensively apply physical control, biological control and chemical control to avoid reduced yield.
The above is an introduction to the control techniques for cassava pests and diseases. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.