Browsing by Author "Sreerama Kumar, P."

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    Coconut eriophyid mite (Aceria guerreronis Keifer) - An update
    (2007-02-08) Nampoothiri, K.U.K.; Nair, C.P.R.; Kannaiyan, S.; Sabitha Doraisamy; Saradamma, K.; Naseema Beevi, S.; Sreerama Kumar, P.
    Coconut eriophyid mite was spotted in India in 1998. The pest later established in various locations of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The mite infests buttons and colonising inside the perianth sucks sap from the tender tissues resulting in button shedding, reduction of both nut size and kernel content as well as loss of husk. The life cycle is completed in.7-10 days. The pest can be managed by periodic spray of insecticides like monocrotophos, dicofol and wettable sulfur. Botanicals such as neem oil, garlic, fish oil, rosin soap etc are preferred, though less effective, due to their ecofriendliness. Proper management of the palms helps to contain the pest and reduce economic loss. Hirsutella thompsonii is regarded as a potential biological agent. No cultivar is resistant to the pest. but%cer tain features like round shape of nut, tight petals etc. offer some tolerance. An uptodate review on the pest in India is presented along with suggestions on future course of action.