Planthoppers: The Root Cause of Broom-Tip Shoot Damage

Planthoppers.... the root cause of broom-tip shoot damage. Shoots that turn into "joss-stick stems" or "broom tips" are caused by a serious pest, the planthopper, during the leaf-flushing stage or the fruit-development stage of durian. The young leaves that emerge are important because they become the tree's new "kitchen" (food-producing engine). So if care is neglected — if insecticide sprays to control planthoppers are not applied continuously, or if the spray fails to reach the shoot area — planthoppers can end up damaging the young leaves.

Planthoppers damage plant leaves at the adult stage, sucking the sap from young leaves. This causes the young leaves to develop imperfectly, eventually leading to leaf drop. Basic monitoring can be done by observing the young leaves at the shoot tips of the durian: if they appear twisted and fail to develop normally, and if small young leaves (roughly the size of a little finger) are found dropped on the ground around the canopy, this can be taken as an initial sign that planthoppers are damaging the durian's young leaves.

Solution: Use an insecticide spray to control the planthoppers. Apply Kansa at a rate of 200 cc per 200 litres of water, together with Sambazu at a rate of 100 cc per 200 litres of water, spraying in alternation with Abaaga at a rate of 200 cc [per corresponding volume of water].