Measures to control Thrips in cardamom crop

Thrips are tiny insects that feed on the sap of cardamom plants, causing damage to the leaves, flowers, and capsules. The feeding activity of thrips can lead to stunted growth, malformed pods, and reduced seed production. In severe infestations, thrips can cause up to 80-90% yield loss. These thrips damage plants by feeding on the sap, which can cause leaves to become discolored and distorted. They can also transmit plant diseases. Both adult and young thrips (nymphs) pierce plant tissues and suck out the sap. This feeding disrupts the plant's internal processes

Identification:

• Size: Thrips are very small, typically between 1 and 4 millimeters long.
• Body shape: Thrips have slender, elongated bodies.
• Wings: Most adult thrips have two pairs of narrow wings with long fringes on the margins. However, some species are wingless.
• Mouthparts: Thrips have asymmetrical mouthparts, with only the left mandible developed for piercing and sucking plant juices.
• Color: Thrips can vary in color from brown or black to yellow or even red.

Environmental favorable factors for pests/Diseases:

• Temperature: High temperatures also contribute to thrips infestations, as thrips reproduce more quickly in warm weather.
• Humidity: Thrips thrive in hot and dry weather. They are more likely to infest cardamom crops during the dry season, especially when there is little rainfall.

Symptoms of Pest/Disease:

• Leaf damage: Thrips feed on the sap of cardamom leaves, leaving behind chlorotic patches (yellowing areas) and causing the leaves to gradually yellow and dry out.
• Sooty mold: As thrips feed, they secrete a sticky substance called honeydew. This honeydew can provide a medium for the growth of sooty mold, a black fungal growth that can further affect the plant's health by blocking sunlight from the leaves.
• Panicle and flower damage: Thrips can infest the panicles of cardamom plants. This can cause the panicles to become stunted and flowers to drop prematurely, reducing cardamom yield.

Measures to control Pests/Diseases: