Incidence and severity of insect-pests and diseases of Kinnow mandarin

Abstract

With significant increase in area and production, incidence of insect-pests and diseases was also increased dramatically. Therefore the study was conducted to find out major insect-pest threats to kinnow mandarin crop in south-western Punjab. The results revealed 18 species of insects, mites and 7 diseases as major threat to kinnow mandarin in South-western Punjab. Citrus psylla, Diaphorina citri (15.75 – 48.25%) was observed as a major and severe insect pest of kinnow mandarin followed by thrips and mite pests (4.8 – 38.82%); citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella (8.4 – 25.23%) and lemon butterfly, Papilio demoleus (4.65 – 21.25%). Aphids, mealy bug, whitefly, blackfly, fruit fly, fruit sucking moth, root borers, white grubs etc. were also observed in the orchards. Natural enemies viz. coccinellids, spiders, chrysopids, mantids and syrphid flies were also observed in the orchards. Among diseases, foot rot/gummosis (Phytophthora parasitica), pathological fruit drop & die back (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides & Diplodia natalensis), sooty mould (Capnodium citri), citrus canker (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri) and citrus greening (Candidatus liberibacter asiaticus) were interfering with the kinnow cultivation in the region.