Insect pests are important in dragon fruit.

Insect pests are important in dragon fruit.

Abstract dragon fruit

The research and development on production technology of dragon fruit has objectivesto study the important pests and diseases of dragon fruits in the major planting in the eastern region of Thailand. Dragon fruits was introducedinto Thailand within a decade and became a new economic plant. Subsequently, pests and diseases also became serious problems of dragon fruit in terms of number and severity. These studies aimed tofind the effective and appropriate control methods for farmer recommendation and were conducting during October 2011 –September 2015.

The population density and seasonal abundance of fruit flies in dragon fruit orchards were determined by the using the Steiner’s traps with methyl eugenol at the rate of 8 traps/rai. The studies were conducted at the farmers’ farms at amphoe Makham and amphoe Pong Nam Ron, Chantaburi province for 2 cropping seasons during October 2011 to September 2013. There were 5 species of fruit flies found in 2011 namely, Bactrocera dorsalis,Bactrocera correcta, Bactrocera cucurbitae, Bactrocera umbrosa and Bactrocera tau. In 2012 cropping season there were 4 species of fruit flies found viz., B.dorsalis, B.correcta, B.cucurbitaeandB.Umbrosa. It was found that B.dorsaliswas the most dominant species in dragonfruit orchard in 2011 and 2012 at the percentages of 99.72% and 99.63%, respectively And it was also found that B.dorsalis was the only fruit fly species that infested dragon fruit.

The studies on fruit bagging of dragon fruit to protect insect pests were carried out in the farmers’ farm during October 2011 to September 2013. There were a series of experiments which aimed to identify the most proper bagging materials and bagging time. The results on fruit bagging materials showed that all the bagging materials tested, namely, plastic, plastic bag with chlorpyrifos 1%, synthetic cloth, commercial fruit bag Choon Fong®, brown paper and nylon gave a hundred percent in efficiency in protecting insect pests. Whereas the control treatment had 24.57% damage from fruit flies. This study also recorded side effect of fruit bagging on quality aspects of the fruit such as color of fruit peel, fruit size and weight. It was found that there was only slight difference. For the experiment on fruitbagging time, it was found that bagging fruit with and with-out chemical application at 14 days after fruit setting could protect dragon fruit from insect pest 100%

Efficacy studies of some insecticides for controlling mealy bugs, Dysmiscoccus neobrevipesBeardsley in dragon fruit were carried out at the farmer’s orchard in Pakchong district, Nakhon Ratchasrima province during July-August 2014 and June-July 2015, respectively. The experiments were conducted in RCB with 4 replications and 6 treatments including thiamethoxam 25% WG, dinotefuran 10% WP, carbaryl 85%WP, carbosulfan 20% EC, imidacloprid 70% WG and white oil 67% EC at the rates of 4 g, 10 g, 60 g, 50 ml, 5 g and 50 ml, respectively compared with untreated treatment. The result showed that all synthetic insecticides gave good results in controlling mealy bugs (Dysmiscoccus neobrevipes). Following 9 by white oil 67% EC which showed few symptom of phytotoxicity when applied in strong sunlight. Pesticide residue were investigated at harvest and was found that produce sprayed with all chemical was safe for consumption except carbaryl which has residue level at 8.06 mg/kg (ppm).