Common Honeysuckle Diseases and Pests Control
Honeysuckle is mainly susceptible to three pests and diseases: spider mites, brown spot disease, and powdery mildew. Let's analyze them one by one:
Spider
Mites: Spider mites mostly congregate on the undersides of honeysuckle leaves. They pierce the leaves with their mouthparts to suck sap, destroying chlorophyll and causing grayish-yellow spots, leaf curling, and in severe cases, leaf withering and falling off. Julu County in Hebei Province is a major cotton-producing area in northern China, and the incidence of spider mites is very high, so vigilance is essential. There are several methods to kill spider mites. You can use 20% abamectin at a dilution of 1000-1500 times, or 5% nissorun EC at a dilution of 2000 times, or 40% chlorpyrifos EC at a dilution of 1000 times, or 73% chlorpyrifos EC at a dilution of 1000 times, for comprehensive foliar spraying.
Because spider mites are resistant to pesticides, it is important to alternate between different pesticides.
Brown Spot Disease
: Honeysuckle brown spot disease is a foliar disease caused by *Cercospora* fungi, a member of the Deuteromycetes. It is widespread and severely damaging, often weakening the plant and, in severe cases, causing death.
Chemical control: Spray with 50% carbendazim at 800-1000 times dilution; 50% thiophanate-methyl at 1000-1500 times dilution; or Bordeaux mixture at a 1:1:200 ratio. Spray once during the rainy season, followed by two more sprays, each 10 days apart.
Agricultural control: Strengthen field management, cultivating the soil twice a year, in spring and autumn. Apply nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer once a year in spring to balance soil nutrients, promote healthy plant growth, and enhance disease resistance. Prune honeysuckle in winter, shaping the tree and removing diseased, insect-infested, weak, and dead branches. Powdery Mildew:
Honeysuckle
powdery mildew is a disease caused by *Erysiphe* fungi, a member of the Ascomycetes. Leaves, flowers, and fruits can all be affected; the disease is widespread and causes serious damage, often leading to branch dieback and, in severe cases, plant death. Honeysuckle powdery mildew primarily affects leaves, but sometimes also young stems and flowers. In the early stages, yellow spots appear on the upper surface of the leaves, while white, velvety mold spots appear on the underside. Later, these expand into white powdery spots, eventually covering the entire leaf with a white powdery layer. In severe cases, the white mold spots turn yellow, causing leaves to twist, yellow, deform, and fall off, shortening internodes and severely impacting photosynthesis. Stem lesions are brown, irregular in shape, and covered with a white powdery coating. During the flowering period, it damages flowers, causing them to twist and deform, and in severe cases, fall off.
Control methods:
① Apply fertilizer scientifically, using less nitrogen and more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to enhance the plant's resistance.
② Prune and shape the plant appropriately and at the appropriate time to improve air circulation. Promptly remove diseased branches, leaves, pruned branches, dead branches, and fallen leaves. Early removal and centralized disposal of diseased leaves reduces the pathogen population.
③ In the early stage of the disease, use 43% Tebuconazole (tebuconazole) suspension at 3000 times dilution, or Greenhen 80% Mancozeb·Zinc (No. 2) wettable powder at 1500 times dilution, or 10% Hexaconazole EC at 1000 times dilution, or 15% Triadimefon WP at 800 times dilution for foliar spraying.
Chemical control of powdery mildew: Spray with 50% Carbendazim WP at 500 times dilution, or 15% Triadimefon WP at 1500 times dilution. Alternatively, mix 100g of 50% Colloidal Sulfur with 100g of 90% Trichlorfon or 15g of 50% Dimethoate EC in 20kg of water; this can also control anthracnose. Spray once every 7-10 days, for a total of 2-3 sprays.
Agricultural control of powdery mildew: Select disease-resistant varieties, plant at appropriate density, prune and shape the plant, ensure good ventilation and light penetration, and avoid excessive shade. When fertilizing, avoid excessive nitrogen application to prevent dense plant growth and increased disease severity
.
Gardening
Spider
Mites: Spider mites mostly congregate on the undersides of honeysuckle leaves. They pierce the leaves with their mouthparts to suck sap, destroying chlorophyll and causing grayish-yellow spots, leaf curling, and in severe cases, leaf withering and falling off. Julu County in Hebei Province is a major cotton-producing area in northern China, and the incidence of spider mites is very high, so vigilance is essential. There are several methods to kill spider mites. You can use 20% abamectin at a dilution of 1000-1500 times, or 5% nissorun EC at a dilution of 2000 times, or 40% chlorpyrifos EC at a dilution of 1000 times, or 73% chlorpyrifos EC at a dilution of 1000 times, for comprehensive foliar spraying.
Because spider mites are resistant to pesticides, it is important to alternate between different pesticides.
Brown Spot Disease
: Honeysuckle brown spot disease is a foliar disease caused by *Cercospora* fungi, a member of the Deuteromycetes. It is widespread and severely damaging, often weakening the plant and, in severe cases, causing death.
Chemical control: Spray with 50% carbendazim at 800-1000 times dilution; 50% thiophanate-methyl at 1000-1500 times dilution; or Bordeaux mixture at a 1:1:200 ratio. Spray once during the rainy season, followed by two more sprays, each 10 days apart.
Agricultural control: Strengthen field management, cultivating the soil twice a year, in spring and autumn. Apply nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer once a year in spring to balance soil nutrients, promote healthy plant growth, and enhance disease resistance. Prune honeysuckle in winter, shaping the tree and removing diseased, insect-infested, weak, and dead branches. Powdery Mildew:
Honeysuckle
powdery mildew is a disease caused by *Erysiphe* fungi, a member of the Ascomycetes. Leaves, flowers, and fruits can all be affected; the disease is widespread and causes serious damage, often leading to branch dieback and, in severe cases, plant death. Honeysuckle powdery mildew primarily affects leaves, but sometimes also young stems and flowers. In the early stages, yellow spots appear on the upper surface of the leaves, while white, velvety mold spots appear on the underside. Later, these expand into white powdery spots, eventually covering the entire leaf with a white powdery layer. In severe cases, the white mold spots turn yellow, causing leaves to twist, yellow, deform, and fall off, shortening internodes and severely impacting photosynthesis. Stem lesions are brown, irregular in shape, and covered with a white powdery coating. During the flowering period, it damages flowers, causing them to twist and deform, and in severe cases, fall off.
Control methods:
① Apply fertilizer scientifically, using less nitrogen and more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to enhance the plant's resistance.
② Prune and shape the plant appropriately and at the appropriate time to improve air circulation. Promptly remove diseased branches, leaves, pruned branches, dead branches, and fallen leaves. Early removal and centralized disposal of diseased leaves reduces the pathogen population.
③ In the early stage of the disease, use 43% Tebuconazole (tebuconazole) suspension at 3000 times dilution, or Greenhen 80% Mancozeb·Zinc (No. 2) wettable powder at 1500 times dilution, or 10% Hexaconazole EC at 1000 times dilution, or 15% Triadimefon WP at 800 times dilution for foliar spraying.
Chemical control of powdery mildew: Spray with 50% Carbendazim WP at 500 times dilution, or 15% Triadimefon WP at 1500 times dilution. Alternatively, mix 100g of 50% Colloidal Sulfur with 100g of 90% Trichlorfon or 15g of 50% Dimethoate EC in 20kg of water; this can also control anthracnose. Spray once every 7-10 days, for a total of 2-3 sprays.
Agricultural control of powdery mildew: Select disease-resistant varieties, plant at appropriate density, prune and shape the plant, ensure good ventilation and light penetration, and avoid excessive shade. When fertilizing, avoid excessive nitrogen application to prevent dense plant growth and increased disease severity
.