Pests and Diseases of Mosambi (Sweet Lime) and Their Management

Pests and Diseases of Mosambi (Sweet Lime) and Their Management

Introduction

Mosambi (Sweet Lime) is one of the most popular citrus fruits grown widely in India due to its high market demand, refreshing taste, and nutritional value. Major Mosambi-growing states include Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Punjab. However, pests and diseases pose a serious threat to Mosambi cultivation, causing yield losses, poor fruit quality, and reduced orchard life if not managed properly.

Major Insect Pests of Mosambi

1. Citrus Leaf Miner (Phyllocnistis citrella)

Symptoms:

  • Silvery, zig-zag tunnels on young leaves
  • Curling and distortion of tender leaves
  • Reduced photosynthesis and plant vigor
  • More severe in nursery and young plants

Management:

  • Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization
  • Remove and destroy heavily infested leaves
  • Spray neem oil (3 ml/L) or neem-based formulations
  • Chemical control: Abamectin or Spinosad as per recommendation

2. Citrus Psylla (Diaphorina citri)

Symptoms:

  • Leaves curl inward and appear distorted
  • Honeydew secretion leads to sooty mold
  • Acts as a vector for citrus greening disease

Management:

  • Prune and destroy affected shoots
  • Encourage natural enemies like ladybird beetles
  • Spray neem oil or imidacloprid during early infestation

3. Aphids (Toxoptera spp.)

Symptoms:

  • Colonies on young shoots and leaves
  • Yellowing, curling, and stunted growth
  • Sticky honeydew and black sooty mold

Management:

  • Maintain orchard sanitation
  • Spray neem oil or soap solution
  • Chemical control using acetamiprid or thiamethoxam if severe

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4. Citrus Whitefly (Dialeurodes citri)

Symptoms:

  • Yellowing of leaves
  • Presence of white insects on leaf underside
  • Sooty mold due to honeydew secretion

Management:

  • Remove weeds around orchard
  • Use yellow sticky traps
  • Apply neem-based insecticides or selective systemic insecticides

5. Fruit Sucking Moths

Symptoms:

  • Small punctures on ripening fruits
  • Juice leakage and fruit rotting
  • Fruits drop prematurely

Management:

  • Collect and destroy fallen fruits
  • Use light traps
  • Bag fruits during maturity stage

Major Diseases of Mosambi

1. Citrus Canker (Xanthomonas citri)

Symptoms:

  • Raised corky lesions on leaves, fruits, and twigs
  • Yellow halo around lesions
  • Premature fruit drop and poor market quality

Management:

  • Use disease-free planting material
  • Prune and destroy infected plant parts
  • Spray copper oxychloride (0.3%) or Bordeaux mixture
  • Avoid overhead irrigation

2. Citrus Greening (Huanglongbing)

Symptoms:

  • Yellowing of leaves with green veins
  • Small, misshapen, bitter fruits
  • Gradual decline and death of tree

Management:

  • Control psylla population strictly
  • Remove and destroy infected plants
  • Use healthy, certified seedlings
  • Regular monitoring of orchard

3. Powdery Mildew

Symptoms:

  • White powdery growth on leaves and shoots
  • Reduced flowering and fruit set
  • Leaf drop under severe infection

Management:

  • Improve air circulation through pruning
  • Spray wettable sulfur or systemic fungicides like hexaconazole

4. Gummosis / Foot Rot (Phytophthora spp.)

Symptoms:

  • Oozing of gum from trunk base
  • Bark cracking and rotting
  • Yellowing and wilting of leaves

Management:

  • Avoid water stagnation near trunk
  • Scrape affected area and apply Bordeaux paste
  • Soil drenching with metalaxyl or fosetyl-Al

5. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.)

Symptoms:

  • Dark sunken spots on fruits
  • Dieback of twigs
  • Flower drop and fruit rot

Management:

  • Prune infected branches
  • Spray carbendazim or mancozeb
  • Maintain proper orchard hygiene

Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) Tips for Mosambi

  • Use certified disease-free seedlings
  • Maintain proper spacing and pruning
  • Avoid excess nitrogen fertilizers
  • Ensure good drainage to prevent fungal diseases
  • Rotate insecticides to avoid resistance
  • Encourage beneficial insects
  • Regular monitoring and early intervention

Conclusion

Effective management of pests and diseases is essential for healthy Mosambi orchards and high-quality fruit production. Adopting integrated management practices, timely sprays, and good orchard sanitation can significantly reduce crop losses and improve yield and profitability.

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