Scientists of the Agricultural Research Station (ARS) and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Virinjipuram have cautioned banana growers in Vellore to keep an eye on banana pseudostem weevil attack on the plantation. A team of scientists had recently spotted high incidence of pseudostem weevil attack on a banana field at Kavasampattu.
R. Rajendiran, director of Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai, along with M. Pandiyan, professor and head of ARS and KVK and scientists from ARS, Virinjipuram spotted the pest attack during a visit to a field recently.
The banana pseudostem weevil is a serious attack on bananas. The pest affects varieties of bananas such as “karpuravalli”, “mondan”, “rashthali” that is cultivated in large areas of the district, officials said.
“At least 4,000 hectares of land are under banana cultivation in the district. The incidence of this pest attack is found high in poorly maintained fields. It also spreads to nearby fields,” Mr. Pandiyan said.
Scientists said that being a monophagous pest, the weevils multiply in area where banana is cultivated continuously. This was the case with the farmer at Kavasampattu who has been continuously raising bananas on one acre of land, he added.
Both larvae and adult pest can cause severe damage. As adults are strong fliers, it can move from plant to plant. In the grub stage, it can make extensive tunnels in the leaf sheaths and bore into the pseudostem.
How can farmers detect this pest attack? Scientists said the affected trees show small pin-head size holes on the lower leaf sheath and pseudostem, gummy exudation from the pseudostem, yellowing and withering of leaves, decaying of peduncles resulting in immature ripening of fruits. Infested plants have dull yellow green and floppy foliage, while heavily infested ones produce small bunches and are easily blown off by the wind, scientists said.
“Farmers should keep the plantation area clean and neat. The fallen leaves should be removed and the area should be free from waste to prevent this pest attack,” he said.
A. Suganthi, agricultural entomologist suggested that farmers take up management measures such as use of healthy planting materials and burning of severely affected stems.
Traps can also be laid for the weevils by cutting and placing old pseudostems. Adult weevils were attracted to the cut stems to lay eggs. Chemical application can also be done for effective management of the pest by using Tamil Nadu Agricultural University’s banana stem injector.
However, pesticides should not be applied after emergence of the bunch.
Professor Pandiyan said that farmers have been cautioned of this pest attack. “If they spot the pest attack, they can bring the samples immediately to KVK,” he added.
