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Plant protection

Pest and diseases

Tea mosquito bug ( Helopeltis antonnii )

This is the most serious pest affecting cashew. The pest usually appears with the emergence of new flushes and panicle. Drying of inflorescence and dieback of shoots are the symptoms. For control of tea mosquito bug, spray 0.003% Lamda cyhalothrin or thiomethoxam 25 WG 0.2 g/litre or 0.05 % quinalphos. A rational rotation of insecticides would be desirable to counteract the tendency of the pest to develop field resistance. Spraying may be done once, twice or thrice depending upon necessity. First spraying is to be given synchronizing with the emergence of new vegetative flushes in October-November. The second spraying may be given synchronizing with the commencement of panicle emergence in December-January. The third spraying may be given at completion of flowering / initiation of fruit set in January-February.

Note: Avoid spraying at Lamda cyhalothrin the time of flowering, as it is highly toxic to honey bees.

Cashew stem and root borer ( Placaederus ferrugineus L. )

This is a serious pest, which is capable of destroying the cashew tree. Main symptoms of attack are yellowing of leaves, drying of twigs, presence of holes at the base of stem with exuding sap and frass. Control Swab the trunk and exposed roots with Chlorpyriphos 20 EC (0.2 %, 10 ml/l) . To reduce the spread of infestation,it is essential to remove the dead trees and trees in advanced stage of infestation at least once in 6 months. Prophylactic treatment by swabbing the trunk region (up to 1 m height from the ground level) and exposed roots, with a suspension of mud slurry or coal tar and kerosene (1:2) or 5 % neem oil twice a year during March-April and November-December .

Fruit and nut borer ( Thylocoptila panrosama M. )

It is a pinkish dark actively moving caterpillar which bores into the tender apples and nuts. Nuts are damaged in case of severe infestation. The caterpillars attack the fruits at all stages and cause the shrivelling and premature fall of nuts. The other minor pests of cashew include, leaf minor (Acrocercops syngramma M), leaf and blossom webber (Lamida moncusalis Walker), shoot tip caterpillar (Bypatima haligramma M) and leaf flower thrip (Scirtothrips dosatis Hood).

Diseases

Dieback or pink disease

This disease is prevalent in cashew plantations during rainy season. Main symptom of attack is the appearance of white patches on branches followed by drying of twigs from the tip.

Control

Chisel out the affected parts and apply Bordeaux paste. Give prophylactic sprays of 1% Bordeaux mixture during May-June and October.

Note:

1. For grown up trees, 5 litres of spray fluid would be required at high volume discharge rate and 2.5 litres at the low volume discharge rate. For spraying, rocker sprayer with Hi-tree lance is preferable.

2. For low volume application, the concentration of the insecticides is to be maintained at 0.1% for quinalphos and 0.2% for carbaryl and 0.06% for phosphamidon. It is difficult to cover the entire canopy with low volume equipment. In such cases, the uncovered upper canopy areas may be covered with rocker sprayer fitted with Hi-tree lance system.

3. Dusting powder formulations are not recommended against tea mosquito bug.

4. Spray carbaryl 0.1% as a prophylaxis against pest infestation in nursery plants.

5. Spray Bordeaux mixture 1% to seedlings as a prophylactic measure against fungal diseases.

Anthracnose and tea mosquito endemic area (ad hoc recommendation)

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