Some Significant Threats to Lychee Production and their Management Options in Bangladesh

Taher, M.A., M.M. Rahman, K.S. Islam and M.M. Uddin. 2023. Some Significant Threats to Lychee Production and their Management Options in Bangladesh. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 41(2): 114-118. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-041.2.114118 Lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) production is severely hampered by pest infestations in Bangladesh. To help in management of three major lychee pests, namely, lychee fruit borer (Conopomorpha sinensis), lychee mite (Aceria litchi) and lychee leaf roller (Platypeplus aprobola), the efficacy of seven different insecticides were assessed in a commercial lychee orchard at Gopalpur, Tangail, Bangladesh, in two consecutive fruiting seasons. Lychee fruit infestations by the lychee fruit borers (>50%) reached a peak in early to late May and in late April by the lychee mites (>42%). Leaves and inflorescences infestations by the lychee mites (>14%) and lychee leaf rollers (10-33%) were high from February to March. Among the treatments, the mixture of imidacloprid and abamectin resulted in a maximum reduction of infestation over the control trees (98.08% by lychee fruit borer, 87.10% by lychee mite and 92.12% by lychee leaf roller). The highest cost-benefit ratio was achieved by applying Novastar 56 EC (bifenthrin + abamectin) (1:10.36) and ranked second in reducing infestations. Solo application of systemic insecticide and combination of systemic and contact insecticide were effective. The combination imidacloprid + abamectin was the most efficient in reducing the damage by the pests, and the mixture of bifenthrin and abamectin was the most cost-effective to control the selected pests. Keywords: Lychee fruit borer, lychee mite, lychee leaf roller, chemical controls, seasonal abundance