Mumtaz Agriculture Farm,Multan-Pakistan

Family Farm Can and will Survive in the 21st Century Our commitment is to care for the land
and Inheritance that we pass on to coming generations. Go for the Agriculture of 21st century.

Mumtaz Agriculture Farm Located by the side of the World-Famous Oldest living city (Multan)

Our kinnow Farm is about 25km east of Multan 3km from Lahore /Multan high way . Mumtaz Agriculture Farm landscape is to enjoy Pakistini Kinnow (Mandarin) and Mango trees dark, evergreen foliage, fragrant blossoms and colorful and delicious fruit.

KINNOW : Area of about 177000 hectares under Citrus plantation in Pakistan, over 1760000 tons of Citrus fruit is produced annually.

Super Oranges Pakistani mandarins ( Pakistani Kinnow ) As all citrus trees require deep soil having both good surface and internal drainage. Most Kinnow grows well in a soil pH range from 6 to 7.5. Avoid soils that have a excessively salty, as citrus trees will not grow well in such soils. Growth and production of citrus under other trees (mango ) is not entirely satisfactory. Citrus requires full sunlight for optimum growth and production. As we have mango and kinnow mix trees(75 kinnow and 25 Mangoes per archer ) we have problems with pruning and tree size control. Sour orange, the most common root stock In Multan that we use. T-budded onto a seedling rootstock several inches above the soil line. The rootstock of a budded tree includes all roots and the lower few inches of the trunk. Best results come from planting during September October (early winter) After planting field water them regularly till new growth. Do not apply fertilizer until the tree begins new growth after planting. Fertilize monthly through October. Scatter fertilizer on the ground at least a foot from the tree trunk and promptly water it in thoroughly .Apply in water if possible. Good weed control is essential for rapid establishment and vigorous growth of young citrus trees. Eliminate all existing weeds for several feet around the tree. As the spread of the tree increases, widen the grass-free area beyond the tree canopy . Weed control can be accomplished by mechanical means such as hoeing. Organic mulches are not recommended for citrus trees because of the potential for inducing foot rot disease and danger of termite. Herbicides such as Roundup (TM) and Kleenup (TM) are excellent for control of existing weeds and pre-emergent herbicides may be used to prevent weed .Most of the field we use tractor with cultivator to remove the weeds. If needed tractor with Rota water .Under the kinnow canopy we hoeing is down just to remove the weed by slashing weed from the roots not going deep to cut the root. Application of chemical fertilizer is down in standing water after irrigation and farm yards manure is spread under the plant canopy in November and December. We have use Round up in some field to get red of weeds and found useful.

As we have start planting in feb.1964. The tree grows vigorously and has an upright form, with a strong tendency to alternate bearing, take five year to start commercial production and stay on fruiting for 16 years with on and off( less fruit) years

Care of Established Pakistani Kinnow Trees is best done by regular field monitoring . Kinnow tree performs best in the range between 60°F and 86°F.(13c to 30c) We have temperature range in Multan as blow. We on our farm try to maintain tem. by adding 25 t0 35 mango tree/archer of big size to provide shad for kinnow and watering the field when needed.

What we do on our farm to maintain kinnow small and big plants according to our climate soil conditions.

To maintain good growth and vigor to maximize the production of quality fruit. 1. irrigation 2.fertilization 3.weed and grass control 5.Pruning 6. Pest control is necessary to produce bright, clean fruit, and to maintain tree health and vigor. Flood irrigation should be avoided. Flood irrigation one archer at one time is the usual method of irrigation on my farm. which consumes irrigation water nearly double of what drip irrigation consumes. On yearly basis a minimum of 50% saving of irrigation water can be done by drip irrigation. But we have not tried drip irrigation up till now. Farmyard manure must be well rotted before it is applied on to the soil. We use about 30kg per big kinnow plant in November or December .It In a very wet season cover the heap or composer with polythene to prevent the materials getting water logged. We cover it with silt. The fertilizer may be applied at two time for the year, First in February 2/3.Secend in august 1/3. Air temperatures below -2'C can damage citrus if soil conditions are dry. Temperatures over 37'C, although citrus can tolerate very high temperatures for short periods of time without any permanent damage. the maximum temperature exceeds 45'C for a few days without economic damage to trees. application is to spread the fertilizer uniformly on the soil surface under the tree canopy and slightly beyond and water it in thoroughly. Control weeds and grass beneath citrus trees to reduce competition for fertilizer and water. Also, weeds and grass may harbor pests which can affect the fruit or trees. Excessive bearing leading to decline or alternate bearing of fruit . We remove excessive fruit from weak and small plant.

Kinnow trees are pruned primarily to control tree size and to remove dead, diseased or damaged wood. Monitor and control outbreaks of pests or diseases which affect tree vigor, as reduced vigor results in reduced production. Aphids, mites, scales and whiteflies . Citrus trees are pruned in order to allow air circulation and access under trees (skirt pruning), to remove or shorten water shoots to prevent them from becoming too dominant, to allow light penetration into the canopy and to prevent crowding of main scaffold branches , to remove branches which cross. and to increase fruit size and to prevent fruit damage due to limb rubbing. Avoid over pruning. The leaves are the manufacturing part of the plant - removing too much of the canopy will reduce tree growth and crops. Citrus bark burns easily if over exposed to the sun. Typical Kinnow trees go through three periods of fruit drop. First is the drop of about 60 to 70 percent of the flowers during and immediately following bloom. The second drop occurs a couple of weeks later, involving small fruit of pea-size to marble-size. The third drop occurs in late August , A few fruit on Kinnow will continue to drop through final harvest, but that is normal and cannot be prevented. Kinnow fruits generally store well on the tree; some fruit drop does occur but usually is compensated by increased size of the remaining fruit. Kinnow should be harvested during their season December to March. In Multan at my Farm, Kinnow bloom in February March. reach maturity in December-February and goes up to end of April . using ladders The pickers dump the fruit at one place then graded and load on to large open pickups for marketing . we are committed to supplying the most progressive and demanding markets in Pakistan with quality fruit grown to our standards of excellence, emphasizing superior taste and food safety. Kinnow prevent cancer, heart disease, and birth defects as well as contribute to a balanced and healthy life style .An excellent source of Vitamin C ,Cholesterol Free, An excellent source of fiber, A source of folate, Fat Free ,Sodium Free .Enjoy a Fresh Kinnow today.

The cool temperatures experienced in 2005 on the end of winter were ideal for Kinnow flowers
so we had a big crop, similar we had a low kinnow setup in 2006 as summer come quickly giving less time for kinnow to set.
This year2007 we are hoping to get good crop of kinnow and mango on my farm as we are haveing good season for fruit to set.Same time we will get ready for PROUNG OF KINNOW IF WE GET MORE FRIUT WHEN THE SIZE OF KINNOW IS A PEE SIZEThat is the good news; the bad news is that if you do not decrease the crop loadand thin the remaining fruiting panicles, many longan trees may begin to decline during
the fruit development period or after harvest. Longan fruit thinning is usually necessary inorder to produce larger more marketable fruit. Symptoms of the tree decline due to anexcessive crop load include leaf drop, fruit shriveling, fruit drop, stem and limb die back,
and in some cases tree death. The symptoms usually begin as leaf yellowing and leafdrop of the older leaves (leaves at the base of branches and stems), then younger leavestake on a light green color, then turn yellow and brown, and begin dropping as well.
Eventually, fruit dry out and stems and limbs dieback.There are several reasons for the decline of longan trees when they set a very large
crop. When longan trees set fruit on nearly every stem terminal, the demand forcarbohydrates (sugars) produced by the leaves increases dramatically and so does thedemand for water and nutrients by the leaves and developing fruit. Fruit and leavescompete for water and nutrients and when trees have a big fruit load; there may not beenough resources (sugars, water, nutrients) to go satisfy the demands of the leaves and
developing fruit. This may result in reduced fruit size and/or fruit drop and/or tree decline.Even in trees well cared for, an excessive amount of fruit load may cause the tree todecline. The situation may be made worse if insufficient water or nutrients are notavailable to the tree. In this case the tree may begin to show symptoms of decline morerapidly.Many of you will recall, that in previous workshops, we have recommended that
immediately after fruit set, when fruit are about the size of a pea, that ½ or more of thefruit on each panicle (spike or terminal) should be removed by pruning. We call this fruitthinning. This fruit thinning is especially important if the fruiting panicles have in excessof 75-100 little fruit. This removal of some of the fruit (by pruning therefore reducing thesize of the panicles) reduces the carbohydrate, water, and nutrient demands on the treeand the remaining fruit become much larger and more marketable. During the 2000 cropyear we learned that when longan trees set fruit on all or nearly all the stem terminals,thinning the fruit may not be sufficient to allow the remaining fruit to become large and
marketable and more importantly to prevent tree decline. We recommend that if most orall of the stem terminals of your longan trees have set fruit this year, you remove entirely40 to 50% of the stem terminals (panicles) that have set fruit (Fig 1) and then thin the fruiton the remaining stem terminals by removing at least 50% of the length of the remainingpanicles (Fig. 2). The time to fruit thin is when the fruit are about pea sized. This shootand fruit thinning will do two things: 1) prevent the tree from declining due to an excessivefruit load and; 2) enhance the fruit size of the remaining fruit.We also recommend, that if trees set a large crop of fruit, additional fertilizer is appliedduring the fruit development period (April-August). Nitrogen applications should be madeat flowering and one time during the fruit development period (e.g., May). If you have a
large crop, you may want to increase the nitrogen rate slightly however, do not apply tooa large amount of nitrogen. More importantly, you should make 2 to 3 additionalpotassium and magnesium and micronutrient (iron, zinc, manganese) applications.However, do not apply a foliar micronutrient mix when fruit are more than half full-grownas this may leave unsightly spots on the peel. Regular watering especially during dry
periods is also important.Finally, if for some reason your trees begin to show decline, we recommend: 1) youremove all the fruit from the tree; 2) fertilize lightly with a nitrogen-phosphate-potassiummagnesiummix; 3) apply micronutrients (magnesium, manganese, zinc, etc.) foliarly and
again in 4 to 6 weeks; 4) apply a soil drench of chelated iron material (EDDHA typechelate); and; 5) water the trees regularly if sufficient rainfall does not occur. Whenremoving the fruit do not remove any foliage remaining on the trees – the trees will needevery functioning leaf they have in an effort to rebuild their health.Commercial growers who wish more information and guidance please call Dr. CarlosBalerdi at 305-248-3311 x.232 or Dr. Jonathan Crane at 305-246-7001 x.290.Fig. 1. Removing 40-50% of all the panicles on a longan tree that has set fruit on all ornearly all stem terminals.Fig. 2. A panicle with pea-sized fruit depicting the before, during, and after fruit thinningsequence. Remove some of the fruit by pruning the panicle back by 30-60% (usuallymore is better).Before AfterpaniclesCut(prune)hereThinnedpanicleBeforethinningDuringpruningFig. 1. Removing 40-50% of all the panicles on a longan tree that has set fruit on all ornearly all stem terminals.Fig. 2. A panicle with pea-sized fruitdepicting the before, during, and after fruit thinningsequence. Remove some of the fruit by pruning the panicle back by 30-60%

(usuallymore is better).DuringpruningBefore AfterCut(prune)hereBeforethinningThinnedpanicle
paniclesDying of kinnow trees: As after the kinnow tree leaf reach its maximum size it wait for the signal to transfer food from the cell to the developing plant new tissues ( organs). Hormones that are primarily involved in transferring photosynthetic (Ausins. IAA) which signal direction of food flow . For fruit it send stronger signals, For leaves have next stronger signal and for the root have the weakest signal. That is why roots start to die if more fruit is on the tree .I have seen on my farm if young kinnow plant up to the height of approximately 6ft. or above 4 year in field and have abundant fruit the plant dye if fruit thing is not down.If leves are dyeing before its full age it may be due to root not producing hormone cytakinin in good quintet's to control photosynthates discharge. if fast causing early dying of leaves. Root stress can be minimize if we know natural cycle.

Fertilizer: The whole Kinnow fruit contained 0.24% N, 0.027% P and 0.197% K. The one ton Kinnow fruit is estimated to remove 0.24 kg N, 0.27 kg P and 1.97 kg K from the soil annually which works out to be 96.0 kg of N, 10.8 kg of P and 78.8 kg of N ha-1 as a yield of 40 tons ha-1 is common .fruit contained 0.071% N, 0.017% P and 0.015% K on fresh weight basis. The pruning wood of bar had 0.014% N, 0.08% P and 0.28% K. Annual removal by fruit is estimated to be 25.56 kg N, 6.12 kg P and 54.00 kg of K ha-1 and by pruning wood 14.36 kg N, 8.21 kg P and 28.73 kg K ha-1 annually by an orchard yielding 36 ton ha-1 fruit and 10.26 ton ha-1 pruned wood.

Tree require, from a nutritional stand point, a well balanced diet applied in the right proportions at susceptible to diseases and insect attacks and will become sick and possibly die prematurely. Unhealthy weaker plants with low BRIX (sugar) readings are more prone to disease and insect attacks than that of healthy plants. Low grade NPK fertilizer application can weaken a plants immune system resulting in a lower survival rate during stressful conditions, such as

abnormal climatic and/or temperature conditions, during trans planting and Once your plants have produced fruit and that fruit has formed and begins to grow or mature. High POTASH with a high PHOSPHORUS is needed with just the right combination of maximum economic yield, which gives the best return for applied fertilizer. The application rate of fertilizers for Kinnow trees varies according to the age of the tree, the fruit yield, the soil fertility and the nutrient status of the tree. Time of fertilizer application/organic manure is after harvest is to restore tree vigor. I use on my farm chemical fertilizer before 15th february if possible but not later then 30 february.About 50% of the total annual chemical fertilizer is used. Organic straw or livestock manure 30kg to 60kg/tree with fruit load of 600kg.Also npk=600-300-450.2nd application in February then September .Some farmer use 1 to 1.5 lbs of actual N/Year (1kg to 2kg urea46%).

On clay loam 50 g per tree of boric acid .Use fungicides contain zinc and manganese. Nitrogen deficiency symptoms are a reduction in yield, and yellow or pale green leaves. Leaves drop off earlier than usual. Potassium deficiency is small fruit which have low levels of sugar and acidity. Nitrogen to allow a good balance. This will help build quality in your crop . Young trees 1to3 year gr/tree/year .75-.75-.75.Fruit yield .6ookg = 600-300-450. 900kg=800-400-600. 120kg=1000-500-750.

Removal of NPK by Kinnow: The whole Kinnow fruit contained 0.24% N, 0.027% P and 0.197% K. The one ton Kinnow fruit is estimated to remove 0.24 kg N, 0.27 kg P and 1.97 kg K from the soil annually which works out to be 96.0 kg of N, 10.8 kg of P and 78.8 kg of N ha-1 as a yield of 40 tons ha-1 is common .The pruning wood of ber had 0.014% N, 0.08% P and 0.28% K. Annual removal by fruit is estimated to be 25.56 kg N, 6.12 kg P and 54.00 kg of K ha-1 and by pruning wood 14.36 kg N, 8.21 kg P and 28.73 kg K ha-1 annually by an orchard yielding 36 ton ha-1 fruit and 10.26 ton ha-1 pruned wood.

Manure: is a complete fertilizer, but low in the amount of nutrients it supplies. Manures vary in nutrient content according to the animal source and what the animal has been eating. The highest nutritional concentration is found in manure when it is fresh. As it is aged, exposed to weather, or composted, nutrient content is reduced. However, most gardeners prefer to use composted forms of manure to ensure lesser amounts of salts, thereby reducing the chance of burning plant roots. Because of its low concentration of plant nutrients, manure is best used as a soil conditioner instead of a fertilizer. increase water-holding capacity of the soil, improve the physical structure of the soil which allows more air to get to plant roots .bacterial and fungal activity increases in the soil Mycorrhizal fungi which make other nutrients more available to plants.

Water For Kinnow: Perennial horticultural crops , input intensive and cultivated under irrigated conditions therefore, irrigation is one of the most important criteria for successful regular, quality production fruit A number of technologies have been developed to minimize the impact of water stress up to some extent .In general, mature citrus require 900-1200 mm of water per year, either as rain or as a combination of rain and irrigation. Summer in Multan is very hot so we water the plants weekly but close to winter we increase the timing of watering to 15days interval in winter 20days.

Weed management : Weeds compete with crops for nutrients, light and water, resulting in stressed plants and poor fruit quality and yield. Stressed crops are more susceptible to disease , Keep young trees trunk with weed free soil. Keep weed-free orchard floor with less frost hazard during winter because of the warming influence of the bare ground .Excessive weed growth creates higher humidity in the foliage increasing disease spread and inviting insects. Weed reduce crop production and contributing future problems through weed seed production. On my farm we spread manure around and under the trees adding weeds in that area also moving the soil by hawing and plowing witch help weed seeds to grow. So we have to remove the weed .Use of systemic herbicides such as Round up is best to apply when weeds are less then 6 inches tall but roundup can be applied long after critical application time and still give good weed controle also kill underground parts of weed. (result on my farm ). Plant basins should be covered with mulches preferably grass mulch (10 -15 kg/basin) and It helps in conserving the soil moisture, reducing the weed intensity by 60%Weeds are rarely managed in citrus with regular cultivation on our farm. But Tillage destroys the feeder roots of citrus trees that are responsible for absorbing nutrients, water, and oxygen in the top soil. Disease organisms may enter through root systems that have been injured by tillage. If the soil is dry, cultivation creates dust, which interferes with biological control of insect and mite pests. Talrage may also increase the weed population by bringing buried seeds to the surface . In grass mulch and 100% in polyethylene mulch also reduce the cost of cultivation. black polyethylene mulch (100 micron) throughout the growth period. The polyethylene mulch maintained 29% more soil moisture compared to un mulch trees. Young Hasta flush should be sprayed against insect pests and diseases .Bordeaux mixture (paste) should be applied on the tree trunk immediately after the with drawl of monsoon kinnow growers to visit their fields regularly at the time of new growth during March and observe the population build up and act at correct stage. He also commented upon the control of foot rot and fruit drop and look for other serious pest underside of the leaves.

Chemical Control of Whiteflies: Primarily attack new growth .infests the underside of the leaves sooty mold fungus , which in turn grows in the honey-dew excreted by the immature stages of the whitefly. Chemical control of whiteflies is both expensive and increasingly difficult. If the rate of whitefly re-infestation is great enough, the cost of effective insecticide treatments may be prohibitive. Besides the cost of treatment, other factors involved in chemical control decisions are the need for thorough coverage ,the risk of secondary pest outbreaks , the risk of whiteflies developing insecticide resistance, and the regulatory restrictions on the use of insecticides. These factors have to be weighed against the expected returns for a given crop at a given planting date. Many systemic and contact insecticides have been tested for control of whiteflies, but few give effective control. Currently registered systemic insecticides, such as oxamyl, have been only partially effective. Certain contact insecticide combinations, especially pyrethroids such as fenpropathrin or bifenthrin plus organo-phosphates such as acephate or metamidophos, have provided excellent control in greenhouse and field studies as long as there was thorough coverage of the foliage. However, by exposing pest populations to two types of chemicals at once, combinations may accelerate selection for resistance to both materials .Therefore, tank mixes should be resorted to only when single applications are not effective. Other products with contact activity, such as oils, soaps and K-salts of fatty acids, can be very effective with thorough coverage, but in field tests they are often less effective because of poor coverage. Good coverage of the foliage with contact insecticides is essential for best results. Most whiteflies are located on the undersides of leaves where they are protected from overtop applications, and the immature stages (except for the crawle) are immobile and do not increase their exposure to insecticides by moving around the plant. Used rop nozzles where appropriate, adequate pressure, and calibrate and maintain equipment carefully. Specific insecticides should be selected according to the stage (s) of whitefly to be controlled. For example, growth regulators often control immature stages by affecting nymphal development, but do not provide good adult control. On the other hand, short residual contact insecticides may control adults, but not affect egg hatch. Whiteflies have become resistant to insecticides threatening the success of traditional chemical control techniques in other areas .The effectiveness of the insecticides could be lost if the excessively and repeatedly applied .There are techniques for monitoring resistance to determine which insecticides are still active against whiteflies. Generally, if an insecticide treatment is properly made with sufficient coverage and yet is ineffective, then that whitefly population should be tested for resistance to the product. There is a possibility that treating a resistant whitefly population with certain insecticides could actually accelerate population growth. This could be because more eggs are laid when the insect is under biochemical stress ,orbe cause beneficial arthropods are eliminated. To minimize this potential problem ,insecticide applications should be used judiciously and combined with non-chemical control tactics. Furthermore, distinct classes of chemical compounds should be rotated at least every other spray. Distinct classes of insecticide include the pyrethroids (Ambush, Asana, Danitol, Karate, etc.), organo-phosphates (Orthene, Monitor, Lorsban) ,carbamates (Vydate) ,chlorinated hydrocarbons (Thiodan), insect growth regulators (Applaud, fenoxicarb), oils, and soaps and detergents. Resistance to soaps and oils is unlikely to ever develop, so these materials should be used as much as possible. The insecticides mentioned in this section may not be recommend on labels for use in your area or for your crop. Read the insecticide label before applying any insecticide.

Natural Control of Whitefly :

Whiteflies are controlled by predatory insects such as green lacewing or coccinelid larvae; by parasitic wasps such as Encarsia or Eretmocerus species; by mechanical injury; desiccation; fungal diseases such as Beauvaria, Paecilomyces or Verticillium species; natural enemies in field situations. Parasitic wasps usually are more effective at low pest population densities, whereas predators are more effectiveat high population densities .However ,parasitism is often more responsive to changes in host populations and therefore more able to regulate these populations at some equilibrium level. Parasitism can be quantified by counting the number of empty whitefly pupal cases with a circular exit hole (created by the emerging adult wasp) rather than a "T" shaped split (created by the normal adult whitefly emergence). The ability of naturally occurring parasites and predators to reduce whitefly populations to low levels in unsprayed weeds and crops has been demonstrated in Florida and Texas. Such is not yet the case in the desert regions of California and Arizona where the parasites and their refuge areas are less abundant. Numbers and activity of whitefly parasites and predators can be encouraged by avoiding broad-spectrum insecticides, planting of refuge crops, and augmentative releases. Whitefly mortality from pathogenic fungi often reach high levels in greenhouses where relative humidity is constantly high and spores naturally accumulate. Pathogenic fungi can be applied as a spray treatment and are effective at any population density .Insect pathogens used for whitefly control must be applied with good coverage and under proper environmental conditions (high relative humidity) to be effective. These products are being tested in commercial production fields and commercial greenhouses, but the economic feasibility of their use has yet to be determined

Diagnosis: Pupal case spiny (Fig.1), black with a small white fringe, and oval in shape. Eggs on underside of leaves in a spiral pattern (Fig.2) and becoming black in a few days after deposition.

Economic Importance : Citrus black fly infests over 300 host plants, but citrus is the most suitable for large population development. It damages citrus by sucking nutrients from foliage which weakens the plants . kinnow black flies excrete honeydew on which sooty molds develop. Sooty molds coat citrus leaves, causing them to appear black. Sooty molds can severely impair leaf respiration and photosynthesis.

The hibiscus or pink mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green), is a dangerous pest of many plants, trees, and shrubs. It infests hibiscus, citrus and Mango trees. t is now a very serious pest of Kinnow in Multan agriculture area. Description and Life Cycle This pest is also known as grape mealybug If left undisturbed, It will grow into large masses of white waxy coverings on fruiting structures ,branches, , leaves, and even whole plants, including large trees. Mealybugs are about one-eighth inch (3 mm) long. Female bodies are pink in color with a white waxy covering. They are wingless and appear as ovoid shapes covered by a mass of white mealy wax. Males have a pair of wings and two long waxy tails and are capable of flight. Reproduction is very fast. If the climate is cool , the pest overwinters in the soil or on the host plant, either in the egg stage or as an adult.Newly hatched move very fast toward tender growing parts . The nymphal stages may last for as long as 30 days. Female lays eggs in white wax in clusters on the twigs, branches, and bark of the kinnow plant, and also on the plant's leaves and terminal ends. Eggs are orange in color but turn pink on maturity. After 3 and 9 days. Eggs are minute 0.3 to 0.4 mm in length and number as many as 300 to 600 eggs per sack. In its egg stage, the hibiscus mealybug disperses most easily by wind. Wingless crawlers, nymphs, and females have been known to travel short distances over the ground to get to other host plants in adjoining fields. The hibiscus mealybug live for about 30 days. Under good condiction thy have 15 generations a year. During feeding on plant thy injects into the plant a toxic saliva that results in malformed leaf and shoot growth, stunting, and occasional death. Leaves show a characteristic curling, similar to damage caused by viruses. Heavily infested plants have shortened internodes leading to resetting or a "bunchy top" appearance. A heavy, black, sooty mold may develop on an infested plant's leaves and stems as a result of the mealybug's heavy honey-dew secretions. the hibiscus mealybug was a major pest only in India The worst effect I noted was in year 2003 on my 8 acres kinnows trees where lot of trees have been killed and whole kinnow area are under threat of extinction. Recognizeing pest.1.Unopened flowers which often shrivel and die 2.Bunched and unopened leaves 3.Crinkled or twisted leaves and shoots 4.Distorted or bushy shoots 5.White fluffy mass on buds, stems, fruit and roots 6.Distorted or bushy shoots7.White fluffy mass on buds, stems, fruit and roots 8.Presence of honeydew9. black sooty mold and ants .Try to delay spray as Pesticides will kill the biocontrol insects used to attack mealybug.Citrus mealybug is controlled most effectively with pesticides during early stages before protective wax secretions and sooty mold form. Monitoring must be concerned with identification and quantitative assessment of first and second stage larvae. Mature mealybugs are highly resistant to contact pesticides as it is nt easily penetrate the heavy wax layers.Some of the natural enemies are including the coccinellid predator Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and the parasite Anagyrus kamali.

Citrus Canker : All of the agricultural pests and diseases that threaten citrus crops, citrus canker may be one of the most devastating. Citrus canker is a highly contagious disease caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis pathovar citri. An infestation can destroy entire crops, but the disease poses no health risk to humans or animals. Severe infection may produce a variety of effects, including defoliation, dieback, severely blemished fruit, reduced fruit quality, and premature fruit drop. Citrus canker symptoms appear on the fruit, leaves, and twigs of infected plants, and typically consist of small,round, blister like formations called lesions. Lesions usually become apparent about 7 to 14 days after infection. As the lesions mature, the epidermis or outer layer of tissue ruptures, producing a craterlike spot lined with tanþcolored tissue that is usually surrounded by an oily, water-soaked margin and a yellow ring that looks like a halo. On fruit, the lesions appear scab like or corky. On leaves, old lesions sometimes fall out, leaving behind a scattering of round holesLike most bacterial plant diseases, citrus canker is greatly influenced by temperature and moisture conditions. Like most bacterial plant diseases, citrus canker is greatly influenced by temperature and moisture conditions. The disease is most likely to develop when heavy rains occur during a period when the mean temperature is greater than 68F to 20cCitrus canker spreads swiftly over short distances by wind driven rain, flooding, air currents, insects, birds, and human movement within groves. Overhead irrigation may also play a role in spreading the bacteria. Movement of infected plants, seedlings, preparative material, and fruit is the primary means of spreading the canker pathogen over larger distances. Contaminated clothing, tools, packing boxes, and other items associated with harvesting and post harvest handling of fruit are also potential sources of infection. Canker bacteria survive and multiply primarily in naturally occurring lesions. Bacteria may also survive in crevices in the bark tissues of citrus trees. Bacterial populations appear to decline rapidly in soil. It has been suggested that the bacterium may survive at low population levels on citrus hosts without symptoms developing, and it may also survive for short periods of time on some weeds and grasses. Neither of these survival mechanisms has been proven, however.

Identification and Control In countries where citrus canker is an established, ongoing problem, control of the disease is primarily achieved through a combination of tactics, including the production and use of disease-resistant plant varieties, use of protective sprays, and phytosanitary measures (use of certified nursery stock). Outbreaks of citrus canker may also be reduced when wind break sere constructed in windy areas. When environmental conditions are favorable for the spread of the disease, chemical control measures are not entirely effective. However, materials containing copper (bordeaux mixture, copper hydroxide, basic copper chloride, copper oxychloride, and tribasic copper sulfate) are the most effective bacterial sprays for protecting leaves and fruit. These materials can reduce the incidence of disease, but they will not eliminate established infections. Extensive use of copper may also cause phytotoxicity problems in treated groves. Pruning infected shoots or plant parts during late summer and autumn can reduce the risk of infection the following spring. Defoliation of canker-affected trees can also further reduce infection risk. In the United States, quarantining areas affected by citrus canker is still practical .Eradication of infected and adjacent trees is the most effective means of protecting commercial citrus from the disease. Once positively identified, diseased trees in commercial groves are uprooted, placed in a pile and burned. Surrounding disease-free trees are destroyed as well, as an added precaution. In residential areas, diseased trees and surrounding, exposed trees are cut down or removed. Areas where trees have been destroyed must be kept free of citrus sprouts and seedlings. Movement of citrus fruit budwood and other plant parts is prohibited from property on or adjacent to sites where infected plants are located. All clothing ,tools, and equipment used in infested areas must be properly disinfected. Kinnow at about 4 Degree Centigrade can retain it’s freshness until 2 months.

Kinnow harvest commences from mid novemberand continues till may. Packing is 6,8,10 and 13 kg.in corrugated boxes32 to 72 pieces per box. Chemical composition when ripe is juice%=47.50,vitamin C mg/100ml=32.00,Phosphorous{mg/100ml)18,Iron(mg//100ml)00.45,Reducing Sugar%o3.75,Non Reducing Sugar%o3.75.

Storage conditions: for Kinnow Short term temperature (oC)5.Temperature range (oC)0 - 9 Relative humidity range (%)85 - 90 Storage time3 - 16 wk .Storage life of kinnow is 60 to 90 days. if place in cold store at 5c and relative humidity 85 to 90%.