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Pest Management |
PEST MANAGEMENT IN TREE CROPS |
PUNGAM
Leaf gall mite – Aceria pongamiae
Biology
- New flush appear during summer which coincide with the initiation of infestation in which the mites multiply its population on pungam
- Adult mites prefer young leaves for egg laying and the newly hatched nymphs, made injury on leaf surface resulting in formation of pouch galls and disfiguring the structure of leaves
- Multiplication takes place favorably in hot weather conditions
Nature of damage
- Galls formed were solitary, elongate and pouch like with truncate apices on the upper surface of the leaves
- Galls were indeterminate, green coloured, glabrous and hollow inside, provided with a minute escape hole or ostiole and were often twisted and curved
- Galls were found on the leaf lamina, secondary veins, midrib and on tender terminal shoots
- Mite infestation drastically affects the photosynthetic activity of the plant, in turn leading to a reduction of biomass
Management
- Clipping of affected leaves
Application of acaricides like Fenazaquin or propargite @ 1 ml / lit of water during new flush formation in summer
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Gall midge |
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