Major pests of Gladiolus are:-
1.Gladiolus Thrips: Thrips simplex
Symptom of damage:
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Deformities and discolouration of gladiolus flowers and corms (bulbs)
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Attacked- buds and flowers remain closed or open irregularly.
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Infested surfaces show whitish grey glistening.
Identification of the pest:
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Egg – opaque white, smooth and bean shaped, deposited in the leaf tissue and corms.
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Adult – milky-white which later turn brown
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Wings have a light transverse band near the base
2.Honey suckle thrips: Thrips flavus
Symptom of damage:
- Nymphs and adults feed on the blossoms which shrivell and become dark.
- Nymphs are white to pale yellow in colour.
Identification of the pest:
- Adults – yellow to orange in colour.
- Legs and forewings are yellow to pale yellow.
Management:
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- Spray Methyl demeton or Dimethoate 2ml/lit.
- Spray Malathian 1.25 ml/lit. or Carbaryl 2g/lit before bud initiation.
3.Flower thrips: Frankliniella spp.
Symptom of damage:
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Flower thrips often invade gladiolus and damage the florets.
Management:
- Spray methyl demeton 25 EC or dimethoate 30 EC @ 2 ml/l. of water.
- Spraying of malathion 50 EC @ 1.25 ml/l or carbaryl 50 WP @ 2g/l of water before the bud initiation.
- Spikes may be sprayed with methyl parathion 50 EC @ 1ml/l l of water (flower emergence period).
4.Mirid bug: Lygus lineolaris
Symptom of damage:
- Bugs – puncture the terminal shoot below the flower bud and inject toxic saliva
- Flower drop occurs
Identification of the pest:
- Nymphs are greenish.
- Adult bugs are mottled yellowish or reddish brown with flat, oval bodies
Management:
- Destroy the weeds in the vicinity of the crop.
- Spray dimethoate 30 EC or methyl demeton 25 EC 2ml/lit of water before flowering.
Source-
- TamilNadu Agritech Portal
