SERICULTURE

Pests

Tussock caterpillars (Euproctis fraterna)
Larvae eat the leaves of the mulberry plant. Their incidence is frequent during March to August. Collection and destruction of egg masses and spraying 1% DDVP are effective. Waiting period is 3 days.

Jassids (Empoasca flarescens)
Greenish hoppers feed on the underside of the leaf, sucking sap causing hopper burn. Spraying 0.1% dimethoate is effective. Waiting period is 10 days.

Thrips
These are frequent during summer season. Attack is severe in rainfed gardens. Spraying 0.02% DDVP is effective. Waiting period is 3 days.

Mealy bugs (Maconelliococcus hirsutus)
It causes 'tukra disease'. The affected leaves show curling and stunted growth at the growing point. Application of methyl demeton (0.05%) is effective. Waiting period is 15 days.

Leaf webber (Diaphania pulverulentalis)
Irrigate the mulberry field immediately after pruning to expose the leaf webber pupae. Release pupal parasitoid, Tetrastichus howardi @ 50,000/ha next day after pruning and egg parasitoid, Trichogramma chilonis @ 5cc/ha at 10 days after pruning. Spray dichlorvos 76 WSC @ 1 ml/l (500 ml/ha) on 30 days after pruning. Clip and burn the affected shoots.

Scale insect
When attack is severe, branches dry and become yellow. Spraying lime sluphur solution is effective.

Leaf eating caterpillar (Diacrisia obliqua)
Appears frequently between November and January. Collection and destruction of egg masses, deep ploughing and flood irrigation to kill the pupae and application of 0.2% DDVP on the leaves can prevent the attack.

Root knot disease (Meloidogyne incognita)
Common in sandy loam type of soil under irrigated conditions. Controlled by applying neem oil cake @ of 400 kg per ha per year in four equal split doses.

Diseases

Powdery mildew (Phyllactina corylea)
It is more common during November-February. White powdery patches appear on the lower side of the leaves. Can be controlled by spraying dinocap 0.2%.

Leaf rust (Ceratelicum fici)
The attacked portion of the leaves has whitish brown pustule on both sides and is deformed and also not nutritive. Infection is more in November-February. This can be controlled by spraying carbendazim 0.1% or tridemorph 0.1%

Leaf spot (Cercospora moricola)
Diseased leaves have a number of circular or irregular brownish black spots of varying size. Infection is more common in rainy season. This can be controlled by spraying 0.1% of carbendazim.

Root rot (Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium spp.)
Apply neem cake @ 1 t/ha in five split doses Uproot and burn the diseased plants. Apply copper oxychloride @ 2g/l in the affected areas.

Last updated: 26-4-2007