Organic Pest and Disease Management in Pomegranate – A Farmer’s Guide to Healthy Orchards

durgaprasad thota
Jul 9
2 min read

Organic Pest and Disease Management in Pomegranate – A Farmer’s Guide to Healthy Orchards

🔍 Introduction

Pomegranate is a profitable fruit crop, but its juicy arils and tender foliage attract a variety of pests and diseases that can significantly reduce yield and fruit quality. This blog explores organic pest and disease management techniques that are cost-effective, eco-friendly, and certification-friendly — perfect for sustainable farming.

A pomegranate on the tree exhibits signs of infestation, with fruit flies visibly gathered around its dark spots.

🐛 Common Pests in Pomegranate & Organic Control Methods

1. Fruit Borer (Deudorix isocrates)

Symptoms: Entry holes on fruits, dry and shriveled arils
Organic Solutions:
- Install AEDAA pheromone traps to monitor & reduce moth population
- Release Trichogramma chilonis @ 50,000/acre every 15 days
- Neem oil 3% spray during fruit development

2. Mealybugs (Planococcus citri)

Symptoms: Cotton-like insects on twigs and fruits, honeydew secretion
Organic Solutions:
- Spray neem oil + soap solution (1:100)
- Drench base with fish oil rosin soap
- Release Cryptolaemus montrouzieri beetles (biocontrol)

3. Whitefly & Aphids

Symptoms: Sticky leaves, yellowing, reduced fruit size
Organic Solutions:
- Yellow sticky traps @ 10 per acre
- Spray garlic-ginger-green chili fermented extract

4. Thrips

Symptoms: Leaf curling, scarring on young fruits
Organic Solutions:
- Blue sticky traps
- Neem oil 3% + pongamia oil 2% alternate spray

🦠 Major Diseases & Organic Control Measures

1. Bacterial Blight (Xanthomonas axonopodis)

Symptoms: Dark, oily spots on leaves & fruits, cracking
Organic Solutions:
- Spray 1% Bordeaux mixture or cow urine extract
- Use Trichoderma-based biocontrol sprays

2. Alternaria Fruit Spot

Symptoms: Black sunken lesions on rind
Organic Solutions:
- Spray Dashparni ark or 5% turmeric + cow urine
- Remove and burn infected fruits

3. Wilt / Root Rot

Symptoms: Sudden yellowing and drying of whole plant
Organic Solutions:
- Apply Trichoderma + neem cake mixture to soil
- Improve drainage & avoid overwatering

4. Leaf Spot (Cercospora spp.)

Symptoms: Circular brown patches on older leaves
Organic Solutions:
- Apply buttermilk + turmeric spray
- Maintain plant spacing for air flow