To achieve high yields and quality produce, you must protect your avocado orchard from destructive pests and diseases. Regular monitoring and timely action are key to preventing severe damage.

In this episode we’ll identifying common avocado pests and learn how to manage them effectively.

One of the pets is the False Codling Moth (FCM) which can cause up to 60% postharvest losses by feeding on avocado fruit skin, leading to rotting particularly at post-harvest stage. To control FCM, adopt these practices:

At Pre-harvest use:

Cultural practices including:

1.     Hang yellow thick polythene sheets pasted with gel/sticky surface about five feet by two feet close to the crops

2.     Ensure that sanitation and field hygiene practices are adhered to by collecting and disposing infected fruits, leaves, and twigs.

3.     Collect fallen fruits and destroy by burying at least 40cm deep to the soil to prevent FCM larvae from emergence

4.     Ensure that pruning is undertaken to remove infected twigs and also improve on air circulation

5.     Ensure that the orchard is weeded and other agronomic practices are carried out

6.     Avoid inter planting avocado with grape, citrus, guava, chillies, peppers, pomegranate, pineapple that are susceptible to attack by the false coddling moth

7.     Hand pick the mature larvae from the crop

8.     Use sex pheromone traps to monitor the adult moths and increase the pheromone traps density to 2 traps per acre to control the pest

You can also use Biological Control including:

1.     Use traps such as CRYTRACK from Kenya Biologics. Place one pheromone trap per acre. Check the traps regularly, and if you catch between 5 to 7 moths per trap per night, it’s time to take action.

2.     Use BACIGUARD 16WDG 15g/20L and repeat sprays after 14 days interval.

3.     Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) at a rate of 0.49 kg per acre to effectively control this pest.

4.     Spray Beauvitech, a natural fungus, at 10g in 20 liters of water every 7 days.

5.     Apply Larvanem, a natural pest control with beneficial nematodes, at 1 sachet (500,000 nematodes) for every 100 square meters.

For Chemical management:

1.     Apply insecticides from flower-bud formation stage until when fruits are fully developed. The most susceptible stage is bud- formation, flowering period and early fruit development.

2.     Spray lambda cyhalothrin products such as Pentagon (10-15 ml/20 lts).

3.     Spray indoxicarb-based products, like Indox, at a rate of 10 ml per 20 liters of water to control pests effectively.

4.     Spray Deltamethrin based products such as Atom 2.5 EC and Decis 2.5  EC at  the  rate  of  10-15mls/20L  of  water.

5.     Use a contact pyrethroid pesticide with residual activity or spray with cyhalothrin to effectively control pests.

6.     Spray with cyhalothrin 2.5% w/v products like Karate at a rate of 10–15 ml per 20 liters of water for effective pest control.

Another serious threat to your harvest is the avocado fruit fly. Over 40% yield loss of avocado fruits are being experienced in the production regions due to rotting and early fall of avocado fruits due to the Fruit fly damage. But how do you manage it.? Manage the fly by use of cultural, biological, mechanical and chemical control options.

For Cultural practices:

1.     Remove neglected or unmanaged plants like guava, chillies, citrus, melons, coffee, avocados, and wild fruits to reduce the pest population and prevent pest buildup in your orchard.

2.     Prune your trees regularly to improve air circulation and eliminate hiding spots for pests.

3.     Bag  fruits  using  old  newspapers  measuring  15x22  cm  to prevent fruit flies from laying eggs on fruits.

4.     Harvest early when crop is mature and green because over-ripened fruits attract fruit flies.

5.     Twice a week, remove fruits showing signs of infestation, like dimples or oozing sap. Destroy them by burying 60 cm deep, sealing them in a black plastic bag and leaving it in the sun for 3 days, or dipping them in boiling water before feeding them to poultry or pigs.

6.     Store harvested fruit in cool place or cold storage for 5 days.

For Biological Control

1.     Protect natural predators like ants, rove beetles, birds, and parasitic wasps by planting hedgerows or wildflower strips such as Lantana camara. You can also release poultry in the orchard to feed on pest pupae at the base of the trees.

2.     Increase the pheromone traps density to 2 traps per hectare to monitor the pest.

3.     Use lure pheromones to attract and trap female fruit flies, reducing their population and minimizing damage to avocado fruits.

4.     Set up traps and baits by mixing ½ cup (150 ml) of vinegar with water and adding 4–6 drops of liquid soap. Place these traps around the orchard to attract and trap fruit flies. Alternatively, apply 20 ml of vinegar per acre as a bait solution.

5.     Control fruit flies by placing commercial pheromone traps like Methyl Eugenol (Bactrolure liquid) at a rate of 20 traps per acre to effectively attract and trap the pests.

6.     Spray neem extract products like Achook 0.15% EC by mixing 20 ml in 20 liters of water to naturally control fruit flies and other pests.

For Chemical management:

1.     Apply poison baits directly to affected trees by mixing molasses with insecticides like Deltamethrin (Decis 2.5 EC), Bifenthrin (Brigade 25EC or Defender 2.5% EC), or Buprofezin (Applaud 40% SC) to effectively control fruit flies.

2.     Spray pyrethrin extract, like Flower DS, at 60ml per 20 liters of water every 5 to 14 days, depending on how severe the infestation is.Begin spraying shortly after the avocado trees start flowering.

Pests are only one part of the challenge. Diseases also pose a significant threat to your avocado trees. Let us look at how to manage these effectively.

Anthracnose and stem-end rot (SER) are serious postharvest diseases in avocados, causing up to 60% losses and reducing shelf life. To effectively manage these diseases, use a combination of practices before and after harvest:

Use Cultural practices including:

•                Adhere to sanitation and field hygiene practices by collecting and disposing infected fruits, leaves, and twigs off orchard.

•                Remove diseased twigs through pruning and also to improve air circulation.

•                Weed the orchard regularly and other agronomic practices to remove alternate hosts.

•                Use tolerant/less susceptible varieties rootstock varieties.

Chemical management:

•                Fungicide Application: Apply copper-based fungicides or azoxystrobin-based products as per manufacturer recommendations to protect developing fruits.

Postharvest management

•                After harvesting, dip the fruits in warm water at 53°C for 5–10 minutes. Handle them gently afterward to avoid damage.

Another serious disease to watch for is powdery mildew, It mainly attacks leaves, flowers, and twigs, but is most harmful to flowers, causing them to dry up and fall off. It can lead to over 70% yield loss.

To manage powdery mildew, use the following combination of cultural practices and chemical treatments.

Under Cultural practices:

•                Keep your farm clean by regularly collecting and properly disposing of infected fruits, leaves, and twigs to prevent the spread of diseases.

•                Prune off diseased twigs to remove infections and improve air circulation around the tree, helping to prevent the spread of diseases.

•                Regularly weed the orchard and perform proper agronomic practices to maintain healthy avocado trees and reduce pest and disease risks.

For Chemical management:

•                Apply fungicides during the most vulnerable stages of the avocado tree, such as new leaf flush, bud formation, and flowering, to effectively prevent diseases.

•                Use fungicides to control powdery mildew effectively.Apply these fungicides as directed to protect your avocado trees from powdery mildew.

Using pesticides can also help to control some pests, but safety is essential. While pesticides are useful, they must be used safely to protect your health and the environment.

Whren using pesticides follow these guidelines:

•           Read and follow manufacturer instructions carefully.

•           Always wear protective clothing when spraying.

•           Mix pesticides only with clean water and never combine different chemicals unless advised.

•           Dispose of empty containers at certified collection points. Never burn or bury them.

By combining cultural, biological, and chemical practices, you can protect your avocado orchard and ensure a healthy, profitable harvest.

Your avocado orchard's success depends on proactive pest and disease management. Regular monitoring and timely action will protect your trees and maximize your harvest. Good luck in your avocado crop management. See you in the next module as we learn about harvesting and post harvesting techniques in avocado.