Guava Pests and Diseases – Identification, Symptoms, and Management

Guava Pests and Diseases – Identification, Symptoms, and Management

Introduction

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is one of the most popular tropical fruits grown across India due to its high nutritional value, adaptability, and market demand. Rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and dietary fiber, guava cultivation offers high economic returns to farmers.

However, pests and diseases are major challenges affecting guava productivity and fruit quality. Improper management can lead to yield losses of up to 40–60%. Hence, understanding identification, symptoms, and integrated pest and disease management (IPDM) practices is essential for sustainable guava cultivation.

Major Pests of Guava

1. Guava Fruit Fly (Bactrocera correcta & Bactrocera dorsalis)

Keywords: guava fruit fly control, fruit fly in guava

Identification:

  • Medium-sized fly with yellowish-brown body and transparent wings.
  • Adults lay eggs in ripening fruits.

Symptoms of Damage:

  • Small punctures or brown spots on fruit surface.
  • Larvae feed inside fruits, causing rotting and premature fruit drop.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM):

  • Field sanitation: Collect and destroy infested fruits regularly.
  • Bait traps: Use methyl eugenol or banana bait traps.
  • Biological control: Release Fopius arisanus (parasitoid) or entomopathogenic fungi.
  • Chemical control: Spray Spinosad 0.5 ml/litre or Malathion 2 ml/litre before fruit ripening (avoid during harvest).

2. Aphids (Aphis gossypii)

Identification:

  • Small, green or black soft-bodied insects found on young shoots and tender leaves.

Symptoms of Damage:

  • Curling and yellowing of leaves.
  • Secretion of honeydew leading to sooty mold.

Management:

  • Encourage ladybird beetles and lacewings.
  • Spray Neem oil (3%) or Imidacloprid 0.3 ml/litre.

For aphids control use Dr. Eliminator: 

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3. Mealybugs (Ferrisia virgata)

Identification:

  • White, cottony insects clustering on shoots and fruit stalks.

Symptoms of Damage:

  • Wilting and drying of young branches.
  • Fruits may deform or drop prematurely.

IPM Practices:

  • Remove infested plant parts.
  • Apply sticky traps to prevent ant movement.
  • Use Neem oil 5% or Chlorpyriphos 2 ml/litre.

For mealy bugs control use Dr. Eliminator: 

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4. Scale Insects (Ceroplastes rubens)

Identification:

  • Brown or waxy scales attached to stems and undersides of leaves.

Symptoms of Damage:

  • Yellowing of leaves, stunted growth, and honeydew secretion.

Management:

  • Prune and destroy infested twigs.
  • Apply Neem oil 3% or Dimethoate 1.5 ml/litre.

Major Diseases of Guava

1. Guava Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. psidii & Cephalosporium spp.)

Keywords: guava wilt control, guava plant disease

Causal Organism: Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. psidii

Favorable Conditions:

  • Poor drainage, continuous cropping, and high soil moisture.

Symptoms:

  • Yellowing, wilting, and drying of leaves.
  • Roots turn black and rot.
  • Plant eventually dies.

Control Measures:

  • Cultural: Avoid waterlogging, practice crop rotation.
  • Biological: Apply Trichoderma harzianum or Pseudomonas fluorescens in soil.
  • Chemical: Drench soil with Carbendazim 0.1% or Copper oxychloride 0.3%.

2. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides)

Causal Organism: Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Favorable Conditions:

  • High humidity and temperature (25–30°C).

Symptoms:

  • Dark sunken spots on fruits and leaves.
  • Fruits become mummified and fall prematurely.

Control Measures:

  • Cultural: Ensure good air circulation by pruning.
  • Biological: Use Trichoderma viride foliar sprays.
  • Chemical: Spray Carbendazim 0.1% or Mancozeb 0.25% at 15-day intervals.

3. Canker (Xanthomonas campestris pv. psidii)

Causal Organism: Xanthomonas campestris pv. psidii

Favorable Conditions:

  • Warm and humid environment.

Symptoms:

  • Rough, corky lesions on fruits and leaves.
  • Twigs may crack and exude gum.

Control Measures:

  • Cultural: Remove infected plant parts and maintain orchard hygiene.
  • Chemical: Spray Copper oxychloride 0.3% or Streptocycline 0.01%.

 

4. Algal Leaf Spot (Cephaleuros virescens)

Symptoms:

  • Circular, greenish-grey spots on leaves and young stems.
  • Heavy infection leads to leaf drop.

Management:

  • Improve drainage and sunlight penetration.
  • Spray Copper hydroxide 0.3%.

 

Preventive Measures and Best Practices

  • Select disease-free planting material from certified nurseries.
  • Practice intercropping and crop rotation to break pest cycles.
  • Maintain field sanitation by removing fallen fruits and infected debris.
  • Encourage natural enemies like parasitoids and predators.
  • Apply organic manures and biofertilizers to strengthen plant immunity.
  • Regularly monitor orchards for early pest and disease detection.
  • Use balanced fertilizer application and proper irrigation practices.

Conclusion

Effective guava pest control and guava disease management are vital for ensuring high yields and quality fruit production. Farmers should adopt Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) that combines cultural, biological, and chemical methods.

Sustainable practices such as use of biocontrol agents, neem-based formulations, and resistant varieties not only protect crops but also conserve beneficial organisms and the environment.

By following these eco-friendly methods, guava growers can achieve profitable, sustainable, and climate-resilient cultivation. 🌿

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