Observations in durian during this season (March 2019)
a. Durian
flowering intensity are low compared
to the same season last year. The flower emergence are much affected and
aborted by the extreme hot weather condition
followed by very high sudden showers however, there are occurrence of flowers that
anthesised which fertilized and developed into small sized fruitlets. The
total number of trees that flowered during this season was not counted yet to
estimate the yield and production . On closer observation at one of those trees
that the fruitlets need to be sprayed with foliar fertilizers combine with
fungicides and insecticides. There are occurrence of Phytopthora on the fruitlets
as shown by which powdery mucilage around the external skin which need to be treated with Ridomil
or Aliette
immediately.
b. Insect
attack. There are occurrence of branch borer attack on some of the durian trees
as observed from the death of the branches and twigs. Close observation of dead young shoots showed that insect excreta or fras produced resulted from boring of branch pith and similar occasion on big
branches. The case is quite rare that
the insect borers, Zeuzera attack other crops like coffee and cocoa.
Immediate
treatment need to be taken before it becomes rampant.
i.Prune all dead branches and spray with Rogor.
ii.
Big branches which had been bored need to be cleaned and inject with high
dosage insecticide of Rogor or Tamaron using syringe
into the holes made by borers. During the activity ensure the operators used
personal protection equipment (PPE) such
as googles dan gloves for safety
purposes.
Other
insect problems is pysllids attack on young shoots that caused “broom-shaped
twigs” that should tackled
immediately using Nurelle 505 .
c
d New
planting : Watering and composting are not enough. Some plants are not growing ; no
new shoot growth. Immediate action
should to taken to correct the problem. Each plant needs at least 6 litres
of water per day ( 3 litre in the
morning and 3 litre in the afternoon). Composts needed to be adequate at 3 kg
per plant and if the soil is high in
clay content compost had to be increased to 5 kg per plant.
