Pests and Diseases of Cashew

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Pests and Diseases of Cashew

Pests of Cashew:

Amongst various; pests- damaging cashew, the- major ones are Tea Mosquito, stem and Root Borer, Leaf Miner and Leaf and’ Blossom Webber.

Tea Mosquite (Helopaltis antonii)

Tea mosquito-is a major pest of cashew and causes more economic loss to the crop than the other pests. The adults and nymphs suck sap from tender shoots, leaves, floral branches, developing nuts and apples. The infested leaves crinckled and dry. Tea mosquito cause crop loss to the extent of 30 – 40%.

The pest can be controlled by spraying 0.05% Monocrotophos, 0.1% Carbaryl, 0.05% Endosulfan at the time of vegetative flush, the second at the time of pamicle emergence and the third at the time of fruit setting. Stem and Root Borer (Plocaederus ferrugincus).

This is a dreaded eney of cashew causing death of the affected tree. The incidence of the pest was about 10%.

For the control of stem and root borer early detection of incidence is very important. The earlier attack is defected the more are the chances of effective contorl. Dead trees and those which are beyond recovery should be removed from the plantation. The affected bark should be removed along with the grubs and then swabbing with Lindane solution is done. The treatment cutting trees at pophylactic treatment for stem and root borer.

Diseases of Cashew:

1. Die Back or Pink Disease

Disease is caused by’ Corticium salmonicolor The affected branches initially, show white patches on the bark and a film of silky thread mycelium develops on the branches during monsoon.  Later, me. fungus develop pinkish" growth. In due course, the bark splits and peels off and the affected shoots starts drying up from the tip.

This disease can be^ controlled by the pruning of the affected branches below the spot of infection and destroying them, protecting the cut surface by application of Bordeaux paste and spraying of Bordeaux mixture 1% twice in May – June before the onset of South West monsoon and the second in October.

2. Damping Off of Seedling:

Under conditions of poor drainage in the nursery, the disease occurs. It is caused due to Pusarium sp, Pyihium sp, Phyiophtora palmivora and Cylindrocladium scoparium. The fungi attack either on the root or the collar region or both of the seedlings.

It can be controlled by provision of adequate drainage in the nursery and dranching the beds/polybags with 0.1 % Cersen, Bordeaux mixture 1%, Diathane – M-45 0.25% or Feltef 0.1%.

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