Controlling shoot borer in turmeric
Rhizome shoot borer is a serious pest of turmeric. It feeds on the growing point of the plant and affects its growth.
The larvae tunnel into the pseudostem and feed on the growing point and internal tissues.
Withering, yellowing and drying of shoots are evident as dead hearts.
The larvae may also feed on the rhizomes leading to reduction in their quality.
Pest biology
The adult is a medium sized moth, pale yellow in colour with black spots on its wings. Fully grown larva is greenish with pink coloured warts on the dorsal side. Minute hairs are present on the warts.
Pest management
The shoot borer infestation can be managed by pruning and destroying infested shoots during July (fortnightly intervals) and spraying insecticide (Malathion 0.1 per cent) during September – October (at monthly intervals).
Protection measures: The crop can be protected by the application of endosulfan 35EC at 2ml/1 or malathion 50EC 1.5ml/1 at two days intervals during July-October.
The spraying has to be initiated when the first symptom of pest attack is seen on the inner most leaves on the pseudostem.
Two sprays
Two sprays of neem based formulations — neemgold 3 per cent or econeem 0.03 per cent or neem seed kernel extract 4 per cent or neem oil 3 per cent reduce the damage from shoot borer.
G. BALAKRISHNAMOORTHY
& D. VIJAYALAKSHMI
Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, Horticulture College & Research Institute, TNAU, Coimbatore
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