Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
some postharvest problems. Anthracnose is a problem in Florida, and the
cultivar 'Mauritius' is especially susceptible, the fungus af ecting young fruit
and causing fruit drop. Many of these fruit fungal infections are secondary in
nature, as the organisms enter the fruit only when the fruit skin is damaged.
Puncture sites from fruit fl y oviposition are excellent points of entry.
A serious disease of longan in China and Hong Kong is witches' broom,
caused by a virus. The virus causes serious deformity of the infl orescence
(Liu and Ma, 2001). It is transmitted by vegetative propagation and is seed-
transmitted.
Nematodes have not been reported as a serious threat to litchi cultivation.
However, tree decline in Natal and Transvaal is associated with two species of
nematode. Roots become 'stubby' and brown in colour, and secondary feeder
root development is inhibited.
INSECTS
Insects are of greater concern (Table 9.6) in litchi production than diseases.
The erinose mite (
Aceria litchii
) is probably the most universal, having been
reported from many widely scattered areas. It attacks the young leafl ets,
producing a thick growth of light brown to reddish-brown, felt-like hair on
the undersurface. The worm-like mite is not visible to the naked eye and is very
specifi c to litchi. Occurrence of this mite coincides with periods of new growth,
regardless of season or locality, and in severe cases new shoots on the entire
Table 9.6.
Insect pests of litchi.
Common name
Organism
Parts affected
Region
Erinose mite
Foliage
universal
Aceria litchii
(
Eriophyes
litchii
)
Leaf miner
Foliage
India and Asia
Conopomorpha sinensis
Rose beetle
Foliage of
young
plants
Hawaii
Adoratus sinicus
Trunk borer
Trunk
Taiwan
Anoplophora macularia
Bark borer
Bark/wood
South Africa
Salagena
sp.
Shot hole borer
Branches
India
Xyleborus fornicatus
Fruit
China
Conopomorpha sinensis
Litchi moth
Fruit
South Africa
Argyroploce peltastica
Macadamia nut borer
Fruit
Australia
Cryptophlebia ombrodelta
Litchi stink bug
Fruit
China
Tessartoma papillosa
Mediterranean fruit
fl
y
Fruit
South Africa
Ceratitis capitata
Natal
fl
y
Fruit
South Africa
Ceratitis rosa
Oriental fruit
fl
y
Fruit
Hawaii
Dacus dorsalis