How to prevent and control common pests and diseases of taro? A detailed explanation of the latest methods
Taro has strong disease resistance, and diseases rarely occur, but improper management can still lead to infestation by pests and diseases. These pests and diseases harm the growth of taro and seriously affect the yield and quality of taro. So how should these pests and diseases be prevented and controlled? Let's learn about them together.
1. Taro blight
Taro blight is a fungal disease and one of the main diseases harming taro production. This disease mainly harms the leaves and corms of taro, and its peak period is every year during high temperatures. It is extremely prone to occurring under conditions of high temperature and high humidity, excessive dense planting, or excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer. When the disease occurs, brown lesions appear on the leaves, the corms rot, and eventually the plants die.
Prevention and control method: This disease should be prevented first. Before the disease occurs, spraying mancozeb, dimethomorph, metalaxyl, and other agents alternately has a good effect.
2. Soft rot
Soft rot has the characteristics of fast spread, many transmission routes, and difficult treatment. It is extremely likely to break out when the plants are growing vigorously and encounter high temperature and high humidity. It mainly harms the rhizome area. When the disease occurs, water-soaked lesions appear. As the disease develops, the lesions expand, the rhizome tissue of the plant continuously softens, and it is extremely prone to rotting in a humid environment.
Prevention and control method: When planting, choose varieties with strong disease resistance, such as red-bud taro, and carry out reasonable crop rotation to reduce pathogens. During planting, strengthen field management, increase the application of organic fertilizer, and improve disease resistance. If diseased plants are found, drain the field and sun-dry it in time to prevent the pathogen from spreading throughout the field, then spray % copper oxychloride suspension concentrate once every 10 days, for 2-3 consecutive times.
3. Leaf spot disease
Leaf spot disease is a bacterial disease. Its symptoms are not obvious when it occurs. It mainly affects taro leaves. When the disease occurs, some small brown spots appear on the leaves. When the disease is severe, the spots connect into patches to form small blotches, and in a humid environment they feel sticky.
Prevention and control method: If a small number of diseased plants are found, pull them out in time and take them out of the field, and disinfect the diseased holes. If a large number of plants are found to be infected, in the early stage of the disease, spray 77% copper hydroxide wettable powder at 800 times dilution, or 12% copper green emulsifiable concentrate at 500 times dilution.
4. Pests
Taro pests include aphids, tobacco cutworms, red spider mites, and others. Both adults and larvae of aphids can cause damage. They gather on taro leaves and continuously suck the leaf sap, causing the leaves to curl and become deformed as they grow. The tobacco cutworm damages as larvae, continuously gnawing on the leaves, and in severe cases gnaws the leaf mesophyll tissue clean, leaving only the veins. Red spider mites are similar to aphids, also sucking leaf sap and causing poor leaf growth.
Prevention and control method: For pests, pesticides such as dimethoate and imidacloprid can be sprayed to kill them. When spraying, pay attention to alternating use to prevent the pests from developing resistance.
The above are prevention and control methods for common taro pests and diseases. I hope they can help you. If you want to learn more about taro cultivation knowledge, please stay tuned to us.