Key Technical Points for Pest and Disease Control in the Chinese Medicinal Herb Pinellia (Banxia)

Diseases

Pinellia mosaic virus disease: a whole-plant systemic condition. When the disease occurs, the leaf color shows a mottled pattern of dark green intermingled with light green, namely mosaic. The leaves become wrinkled and smaller, and the plant becomes stunted. Control method: planting with virus-free tubers and detoxification techniques such as shoot-tip culture; cultivating and planting virus-free pinellia tubers is the most economical and effective measure.

Pinellia mosaic virus disease

Leaf spot disease: when the disease occurs, purple-brown lesions appear on the leaves, after which the plant gradually withers. Control method: before the disease occurs and in its early stage, spray 1:1:120 Bordeaux mixture or 65% amobam (dithane-stainless) 500-fold solution, once every 7-10 days, for 2-3 consecutive applications.

Tuber rot disease: mostly occurs in places with long-term water accumulation. After the disease occurs, the underground tubers rot and the aboveground parts wither. Trenching for drainage is mostly used for control.

Pests

The taro double-line hawk moth (Theretra clotho): the larvae damage the leaves, biting them into notches or eating them bare, leaving only part of the petioles. Control method: spray 90% trichlorfon 800-fold solution during the young larval stage; manual capture can also be used.