Journal of Plant Pathology & Microbiology

Abstract

Mango Fruit Loss at Field by Major Pests in South-western Ethiopia

Sisay Kidanu*, Wakjira Getachew and Tamiru Shimales

Mango production is facing many challenges of which pests are the major. A study was done in 2019/20 at the potential mango production areas of Southwestern Ethiopia to assess production experiences and magnitude of losses of mango fruits caused by mango pests at the farm level. A total of 80 mango producers farms were sampled and fruit damage symptom and sign determination was conducted at fields using hand magnifying lens and colored pictorial manual. Result revealed most farmers had knowledge about white mango scale, fruit fly and grivet monkey. About 90% of the respondents of Didessa and 80% of Metu and Gumay districts mentioned white mango scale as the dominant pest. In Nopha and Gomma, 60 and 80% ranked grivet monkey for their mango fruit loss. There was statistically significant (χ² = 17.71) differences between districts for pest management training. Mango fruits losses was 1.67 to 50.76% by fruit fly (mean 13.5%), white mango scale caused null to 78.50% (mean 49.13%) and monkey, 4.22 to 19.64% (mean 10.7%). Due to the growth of supermarkets and the demands from consumers and buyers require giving more attention on reduction of losses, the need for pest management.

Published Date: 2021-12-30; Received Date: 2021-12-09