Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)

Cardamom thrips (Sciothrips cardamomi)

Symptoms

  • Most destructive and persistent pest of cardamom.
  • They colonize and breed in different parts of the plant such as unopened leaves, spindles, leaf sheaths, flower bracts, perianths and flower tubes.
  • Adults and nymphs of the insect cause damage to panicles, flowers and capsules.
  • Lacerates the surface tissues with mandibles and sucks the exuding plant sap by applying its mouth cone.
  • Injury to panicles results in its stunted growth, that on flowers leads to flower dropping
  • Injury produced on tender capsules develop as scabby growth on capsules as they mature.
  • Affected capsules appear malformed, shrivelled and sometimes with gaping slits.
  • Such capsules are inferior in aroma, have less number of seeds, and seeds are underdeveloped and may not germinate

Management

  • Regulate shade
  • Remove dry looping leaves
  • Release Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi @ 2 larvae/plant in early stage of plant & 4 larvae/plant in later stage.

Chemical Control

Sl.No Generic Name Trade Name Color code Dosage/litre Recommendation Remarks
Dosage/acre (200 L) Dosage/hectare (500 L)
1 Diafenthiuron 50 WP Pegasus, Polo, Derby Blue 0.16 g 32 g 80 g Apply at severe attack
2 Quinalphos 25 EC Agroquin, Anuphos, Guin Guard Tagquin, H.LX, Hilquin Geelux, Kinalaux Exalux, Krilux, Quinaswan Flash, Quincid Starlux, Rambalux Quinolux Yellow 2 ml/litre of water 400 ml 1000 ml Apply at severe attack
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Extremely Toxic
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Highly Toxic
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Moderately Toxic
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Slightly Toxic