Control methods for pests, diseases and rodent damage in Fritillaria ussuriensis

I. Diseases

Diseases have a very large impact on the yield of Fritillaria ussuriensis. In mild cases they affect the yield of that year; in severe cases they cause missing plants, broken rows, or even the destruction of the entire plot and total crop failure.

1. RustIt damages the stems and leaves of fritillaria. The disease begins in May, first appearing as yellow round spots on the underside of the leaves and the lower part of the stems, which then gradually enlarge and produce yellow powder that drifts with the wind and lands on other fritillaria plants, infecting them and causing disease. It spreads very rapidly, causing early collapse of the plants and affecting yield.

Control methods: A. After Xiaoman in spring, clean up diseased fritillaria plants and weeds thoroughly; B. Apply “gaitou manure” and inorganic fertilizers (phosphorus and potassium fertilizers) every year; C. Chemical control: after the young seedlings unfold their leaves in spring, spray 150-fold Bordeaux mixture of equal parts, or spray 800-fold carbendazim or thiophanate-methyl solution once every 10 days, which can completely control the occurrence of rust. 

2、Sclerotinia disease

It seriously damages the bulbs, and if not controlled in time it can cause total crop failure. Bulbs infected by the disease first form black spots, which gradually spread to the whole bulb until it turns completely black, and the underground parts wither and die. Sclerotinia disease develops rapidly: if the diseased area is 1 sq m this year, it can expand to 2 sq m the next year, and all large and small fritillaria in the diseased area die.

Control methods: A. Use sexual reproduction, avoid seed bulbs carrying soil and pathogens, and carry out crop rotation, removing them all in one go; B. When planting, use 1 kg of carbendazim per 100 kg of seed for seed dressing and disinfection; C. During spring and autumn cultivation each year, disinfect the soil by broadcasting 10 g of copper sulfate per sq m, then cultivate again so that the chemical is fully mixed with the soil; the above two chemicals should be used alternately in spring and autumn; ④ When diseased plants are found, remove them together with the surrounding soil, and disinfect the diseased holes with quicklime.

Through the control of rust and sclerotinia disease, the gray mold and yellow rot of fritillaria can heal without treatment. 

II. Insect and rodent damage

1. Wireworms (ginger worms) and white grubs are both underground pests that bite and feed on fritillaria bulbs. Control: they can be controlled by drenching with 800-fold trichlorfon solution.

2. Cutworms (cutting worms) bite and feed on fritillaria seedlings at night. Generally, 1 cutworm can damage 3-10 plants in one night. Control: broadcast 2 kg of trichlorfon powder per 667 sq m, or spray with 800-fold trichlorfon solution.

3. Mole crickets bite and feed on fritillaria bulbs and cut off the seedlings. Control: steam corn bait until hot, mix 50 g of trichlorfon per 5 kg to make poisonous bait for trapping and killing, or drench with 700-fold trichlorfon solution.

4. Zokors (blind mice) have a very large appetite, bite and feed on fritillaria bulbs, and in autumn also have the habit of storing fritillaria bulbs. They are active every morning, evening and on rainy days, fear light and wind, and have keen hearing. If their burrows have ventilation or light, they will come to plug the holes.

Control methods: A. Take advantage of their hole-plugging habit and catch them manually; B. Put rat poison inside the white part of large scallions, then place the scallions in the burrows to trap and kill them, with very good results. 

5. Moles (burrowing dragons)They are insectivorous animals, but they burrow through fritillaria beds, causing fritillaria seedlings to be exposed to wind and die. They can be caught manually when they come out to dig burrows in the morning, evening and on cloudy days, or trenches can be dug to block them.