Common Pests and Diseases of Panax notoginseng and Planting Precautions

Panax notoginseng is a common Chinese herbal medicine, with effects such as stopping bleeding and dispersing blood stasis, reducing swelling and relieving pain, and is a very high-quality blood-nourishing medicinal herb. So what common pests and diseases does Panax notoginseng have? What should be noted when planting? Let's take a look below.

I. Common Pests and Diseases of Panax notoginseng

1. Damping-off

Damping-off is the most common disease of Panax notoginseng. It is a fungal disease that mainly harms seeds, young buds and seedlings. When seeds are affected, they rot and exude a milky white sap; when seed buds are affected, they turn dark brown until they die; when seedlings are affected, dark gray sunken lesions appear at the base of the stem, and in the later stages of the disease the seedlings collapse and die.

Control method: Before sowing, carbendazim can be used to disinfect and sterilize the soil, and the seeds should also be disinfected. When diseased plants are found, pull them out promptly and take them out of the field. Then spread lime powder around the diseased holes and spray thiophanate-methyl thoroughly, which can effectively prevent the disease from continuing to spread.

2. Root rot

It is also a fungal disease that mainly harms the root system of the plant. When it occurs, dark brown lesions appear on the roots and gradually extend upward along the root system. In humid environments, the base of the stem gradually softens and rots, accompanied by a foul odor, and the plant gradually withers and dies.

Control method: Choose plots with good drainage for planting, pay attention to drainage during the rainy season, choose varieties with strong disease resistance for planting, promptly pull out diseased plants and take them out of the field, then use lime powder to disinfect the diseased holes. Carbendazim can also be used to drench the roots in the early stage of the disease, with good results.

3. Phytophthora blight

It is also a fungal disease that mainly harms the aboveground parts of the plant. When it occurs, yellow-brown lesions appear on the leaves, with obvious brown edges. In the later stage of the disease, black spots appear on the lesions, which easily cause leaf perforation; affected fruits show slightly sunken brown spots; affected stems show sunken yellow-brown diamond-shaped spots.

Control method: Thoroughly clean the garden, promptly burn dead branches and fallen leaves, choose disease-free Panax notoginseng seedlings, soak them in Bordeaux mixture for a period before transplanting. When the disease occurs, spray with zineb or tecloftalam, once every week, for 2-3 consecutive times.

4. Pests

The main pests of Panax notoginseng include mites, aphids, cutworms and other underground pests. They mainly harm the leaves and rhizome parts, affecting the normal growth of the plant, and in severe cases can cause the plant to wither and die.

Control method: Deeply plow the soil when planting to kill overwintering pests. When pests are severe, dimethoate emulsion can be used for control, but pay attention to the concentration to avoid affecting the growth of Panax notoginseng.

II. Precautions for Planting Panax notoginseng

1. Growing environment

Panax notoginseng is a shade-loving plant. It likes an environment that is warm in winter and cool in summer, fears severe cold and intense heat, and likes humid environments, but fears waterlogging. The suitable soil moisture content is between 20%-40%. When planting, pay attention to temperature changes. In summer, it must not be higher than 35 degrees. Once the temperature is too high, growth will be slow or stagnant in mild cases, and the plant will wilt and die in severe cases; in winter, the temperature must not be lower than minus 5 degrees, otherwise frost damage will occur. It grows best in an environment of 18-25 degrees.

2. Land preparation and fertilization

Panax notoginseng has low requirements for soil and strong adaptability, but sandy loam that is loose, fertile and well-drained is suitable. It should never be planted in plots with heavy clay and low-lying areas prone to waterlogging. Continuous cropping is also avoided. The soil pH value is best between 4.5-8. In order to promote the growth and development of the Panax notoginseng root system, the soil should be deeply plowed before planting and disinfected and sterilized. At the same time, apply 5000 kg of fully decomposed farmyard manure per mu as base fertilizer to maintain soil fertility.

3. Seedling-stage management

The management at the seedling stage mainly requires attention to water management and weeding. When the climate is dry, appropriately increase watering, generally once a week. In rainy weather, reduce the amount. At the same time, pay attention to water accumulation in the field, drain water to reduce humidity, so as to avoid root rot. Then there is regular weeding. In order to avoid harming Panax notoginseng, it is best to choose manual weeding and not use pesticides, so as to avoid pesticide residues and affect yield.