Diseases and Pests of Leopard Arrowroot and Their Control

Diseases

Soft rot, rust, leaf blight, leaf spot, white rot, etc.

Pests

Scale insects, red spiders, etc.

Characteristics of disease

① White rot: White rot is a disease that often occurs on leopard arrowroot plants; the disease is more serious from July to August; it is particularly prone to disease when the soil is too moist; after the disease occurs, the leaves and stems of the leopard arrowroot will turn from the original white to yellow, and when they turn brown, they are already in a state of rot, and slowly extend to the death of the entire plant.

② Leaf spot: The peak incidence of leaf spot is from March to April and from September to October. After the disease occurs, it mainly manifests itself on the leaves and sometimes on the leaf sheaths. It starts as spots and slowly turns into reddish-brown spots, which can cause a large number of leaves to wither. The disease can also occur due to the main planting environment, such as poor ventilation, long-term rainy days, etc. The disease is also contagious.

③Leaf blight: When leaf blight occurs, it starts from the tip of the leaves. Spots will appear in the early stage, and then slowly expand. The expanded spots will merge into large spots. When the disease is serious, it will cause the leopard arrowroot to stop growing and slowly wither and die. This disease is mainly caused by the high or cold temperature of the growth environment, unbalanced nutrition, etc. This disease is also contagious and can even be transmitted through the flow of air.

④Rust: Rust can cause great damage to the leaves of the leopard arrowroot, which may change from small spots at first to pustules and finally to brown. In severe cases, it can also lead to the death of the leopard arrowroot.

⑤ Soft rot: When soft rot occurs, it starts from the roots. The leaves will turn dark green with spots appearing. Then the leopard taro will rot quickly and emit a pungent odor. The occurrence of this disease is mostly caused by the high temperature of the cultivation environment; the disease will spread with watering.

Disease prevention and control methods

①Eliminate it at the source and choose healthy and high-quality varieties that are disease-free and harmless when selecting seedlings.

② The soil should be loose, breathable and well-drained; the surrounding environment should be warm and humid; the temperature should be well controlled and should not be too hot or too cold; fertilizer should be applied in a timely and appropriate amount; and disinfection with carbendazim can be carried out before planting.

③ During the cultivation period, observe the plants regularly and deal with the infected parts in time to reduce the spread of the disease.

Characteristics of pests:

Scale insects: grow on the edges of leaves and survive by sucking leaf sap.

Red spider mites: Red spider mites are the most common insect pests. They also absorb nutrients from plants, causing them to lose nutrients.

Pest control methods:

Methods for preventing and controlling scale insects: If the situation is not serious, you can spray insecticides for prevention and control. If the entire plant is eroded, you cannot continue to cultivate it. So be observant.

Methods for prevention and control of red spider mites: If the situation is not serious, you can spray insecticide for prevention and control; pay attention to ventilation environment and spray water on the back of leaves frequently to prevent the reproduction of red spider mites.