Current situation of mango orchards and recommendations for remedies

 

M. Mithal Jiskani

Assistant Professor, Plant Pathology, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam

 

 

 

In response to complains of mango growers and various news items appeared in different newspapers, the Vice Chancellor of Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, Prof. Dr. A.Q. Mughal, directed to Porf. Dr. M.A. Rustmani, Dean, Faculty of Crop Protection, to call an emergent meeting and constitute committee of experts for visiting and reporting the current situation of mango orchards nearby the University.

The four member team (comprising Mr. Q.D. Abbasi, Associate Professor & Chairman, Plant Protection, Mr. M.M. Jiskani, Assistant Professor, Plant Pathology, Dr. A.M. Lodhi, Assistant Professor, Plant Pathology and Mr. Aslam Bukero, Lecturer, Plant Protection) was constituted to visit Mango Fruit Farms, specially Habib-ur-Rehman Yousfani Mango Fruit Farm at Tajpur - Nasurpur Road and report pest and disease problems.

The team thoroughly visited various Mango Farms, including the pointed one and interviewed the orchard owner/contractor.

The mentioned orchard was above 50 years old, is irrigated irregularly with tube well water only, planted at short distance, even having no walking space. Overall, there was a mixture of varieties in orchards, instead of separate varietal blocks, which help the multiplication and spread of pests and diseases. The proper tree training and pruning is also not done as per recommendations of the experts (Research/Extension).

 

Disease situatio

 

The Mango varieties viz. Collector, Began Pali, Malda Siroli, Langra and Desi varieties are severely infected by Mango Malformation; but Sindhri, Dusheri, Chaunsa, Langra are less infected by the same. Very few trees found infected with bacterial leaf spots, powdery mildew and gummosis, respectively.

 

Insect Pests:

 

Thrips infestation observed 25-30 % on mango fruits. Mango Hoppers, Scale insects, Shoot borer, Shoot girdler and Stone weevil found negligible.

 

Recommendations:

• Immediate pruning of malformed structures may be buried deep in the soil.


• Two sprays may be done with the interval of 10 days with water or 1 % ...detergent powder against sucking insects.


• Proper irrigation should be given with equal mixture of canal and tube well at ..10-15 days intervals.


• The orchard owner is advised to contact with agriculture experts for modern production technology. There should be soil and water analysis before application of irrigation, nutrients/fertilizers.

As there is a general cry of the farmers of mangoes in upper and lower sindh (news papers). Therefore, survey of mango orchards may be carried out to know the actual threat/causes and consequences of pests and disease accordingly.