Broccoli Pest and Disease Control Methods, Characteristics, and Dietary Restrictions

To ensure the production of high-quality broccoli, forecasting and monitoring of pests and diseases should be strengthened. With a focus on prevention first, do you know how to control pests and diseases in broccoli during cultivation? What characteristics does it have? What should it not be eaten with?

I. How to Control Pests and Diseases in Broccoli

1. Downy mildew

① Symptom manifestation. It is a fungal disease, showing more obviously during the curd development stage. Older leaves are affected first, then it spreads to young leaves. In the early stage of the disease, chlorosis appears and leaves turn yellow. When dry, the leaves wither; when humid, a mold layer appears on the underside of the leaves.

② Control methods. Choose varieties with strong disease resistance. Avoid continuous cropping; the soil should be deep-plowed and sun-bleached, and an appropriate amount of lime should be applied to improve it. In the early stage of the disease, promptly spray with 70% mancozeb wettable powder at 600-800 times dilution, or metalaxyl at 400-600 times dilution. Stop using pesticides 10-15 days before harvest.

2. Soft rot

① Symptom manifestation. It is a bacterial disease, prone to occur when there is more rain in the late growth stage of broccoli. The lesions are water-soaked, gradually softening and rotting, producing a foul odor; the pathogen invades through wounds on roots, stems, and leaves.

② Control methods. Avoid continuous cropping with cruciferous vegetables, especially with cabbage-type and Chinese cabbage-type crops. Strengthen field management and cultivate strong seedlings. Avoid injury and pay attention to drainage after rain. In the early stage of the disease, promptly spray streptomycin sulfate, or 72% agricultural streptomycin wettable powder at 3000-4000 times dilution, or new plantmycin at 4000 times dilution.

3. Diamondback moth

① Symptom manifestation. First-instar larvae can only feed on the leaf mesophyll, leaving transparent epidermis; 3rd-4th instar larvae can eat the leaves into holes, and in severe cases the entire leaf is eaten into a net-like pattern.

② Control methods. In the early stage of the disease, use black light lamps to trap and kill adults. Bacillus thuringiensis preparation at 500-1000 times dilution can also be sprayed, or 50% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate at 1000-2000 times dilution can be sprayed. Stop using pesticides 10 days before harvest.

4. Cabbage caterpillar

① Symptom manifestation. Larvae gnaw on the leaf mesophyll, leaving only a layer of transparent epidermis; in severe cases only the leaf veins remain. When damaging the curd, soft rot is likely to occur, and insect frass also contaminates the curd, reducing its commercial value.

② Control methods. In the early stage of the disease, promptly spray with Bt emulsion, or Qingchongjun No. 6 liquid at 500-800 times dilution, or 50% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution, or 20% fenvalerate emulsifiable concentrate at 3000-4000 times dilution. If it rains after spraying, re-spray. Stop using pesticides 10 days before harvest.

5. Cabbage aphid

① Symptom manifestation. Affected plants lose water severely, curl, turn yellow, and become twisted and deformed. Cabbage aphid damage can also trigger sooty mold and spread viral diseases.

② Control methods. Set up yellow sticky boards in the broccoli field to trap aphids, 8 boards per mu. Hang silver-gray film strips to repel aphids, film width 12-23 cm, height below 1 m. In the early stage of the disease, promptly spray with 40% dimethoate at 1000 times dilution, or 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate at 1000-2000 times dilution. Stop using pesticides 15 days before harvest.

II. What Characteristics Does Broccoli Have

1. Cleans blood vessels

Eating broccoli can clean blood vessels because broccoli is rich in flavonoids, and this substance is a very good blood vessel cleanser. We hope everyone can understand this.

2. Detoxifies the liver

Broccoli also has a detoxifying effect and can strengthen blood vessel walls. It is rich in vitamin C, which can improve the human body's immunity. It is very good.

3. Anti-cancer and cancer-preventing

Cauliflower contains antioxidant trace elements that prevent cancer. Long-term consumption can reduce the incidence of breast cancer, rectal cancer, and stomach cancer. According to a report by the American Cancer Society, among many vegetables and fruits, cauliflower and Chinese cabbage have the best anti-cancer effects. The American journal Nutrition also published research results showing that broccoli can effectively prevent prostate cancer.

4. Combating diabetes

Broccoli is a high-fiber vegetable that can effectively reduce the gastrointestinal absorption of glucose, thereby lowering blood sugar and effectively controlling the condition of diabetes.

5. Combating Alzheimer's disease

British scientists recently stated that sulforaphane, a chemical extracted from cauliflower, helps people stay sharp in old age, so it may become the key to conquering Alzheimer's disease (senile dementia).

III. What Broccoli Should Not Be Eaten With

1. Broccoli and milk are not suitable to be eaten at the same time. It affects calcium absorption and is not conducive to human bone growth and development. Especially for teenagers, eating them together should be avoided as much as possible.

2. Broccoli and beef liver are incompatible. Beef liver is rich in copper and iron ions, which easily oxidize vitamin C and cause it to lose its original function, so the two should not be eaten together.

3. Broccoli and cucumber are incompatible. Cauliflower is rich in vitamin C, while cucumber contains vitamin C decomposing enzyme, so they are not suitable to be eaten together.

4. Broccoli and digitalis are incompatible. If you eat too much of these foods, such as cauliflower, soybean, spinach, and pickled mustard tuber, while taking digitalis, it will reduce the drug's efficacy.

5. Broccoli and vitamins are incompatible. Cauliflower is rich in vitamin C, which can reduce the efficacy of hemostatic drugs, so it is not suitable to eat when taking hemostatic drugs.