Red gram sterility mite: Aceria cajani
Symptoms of damage
- Infected plants develop light green or chlorotic leaves which have mosaic patterns.
- Most infected plants do not bear flowers.
Identification of the pest
- Eggs: Milky white eggs are found on vegetative terminals.
- Adult: The mites are difficult to see with the naked eye.They are 0.2 mm long, light pink, spindle-shaped, and are normally found feeding on the underside of leaflets. Many nymphs are found on young folded leaflets. Plant – to-plant infestation occurs by the wind dispersal of infective mites.
Management
- Use resistant pigeonpea varieties.
- Spray dicofol 18.5 EC 1.0 L or wettable sulphur 40 WP 3.0 kg or dimethoate 30 EC 1.0 L or phosalone 35 EC 1.0 L in 700 L water per ha
- Avoid synthetic pyrethroids as they cause resurgence after repeated spray.
Source-
- TNAU Agritech Portal
