Bacterial fruit blotch is a seed-borne bacterial disease that affects cucurbits (watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, and pumpkin) and some solanceous plants (melongene and sweet peppers). It was discovered in Mayaro, Trinidad in 2012 on watermelons. It is known to occur in most watermelon producing countries.
Bacterial fruit blotch is devastating as losses reported are 50-80%. Symptoms may not be visible until two weeks prior to harvest and affected fruits are unmarketable. One infected plant is too much as the disease spreads rapidly!
Huanglongbing disease of citrus (also called citrus greening or yellow dragon disease) is a bacterial disease that affects all above ground parts of the plant: leaves, branches and fruits
The tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta is a tiny moth whose larva attacks solanaceous plants (like tomato, melongene, peppers, nightshade and jimson weed) and also beans. It is native of Central America and can also be found in South America, Europe and the Mediterranean.
Red palm Weevil or Asian palm Weevil or Indian palm weevil, hynchophorus ferrugineus is the most dangerous and deadly pest of palms, including coconut, date, royal, and talipot (Fig. 1). It also infests agave and sugarcane.
Lethal yellowing is a fatal disease of palms, including coconuts. It is caused by a phytoplasma. Over 38 species of palms are susceptible to lethal yellowing. There are no resistant coconut varieties. Lethal yellowing spreads from one country to another by moving infected palm plant material.
These Pests Can Hide In Healthy-Looking Plants And Plant Products
Frosty Pod Rot is a disease of cocoa and is caused by the fungus, Moniliophthora roreri. The disease is confined to Central and South America. It first appeared in Columbia in 1917, and has spread to Ecuador, western Venezuela, Panama, Costa Rica, Peru, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, Mexico and El Salvador.
The Cassava Hornworm, Erinnyis ello is a pest of cassava and is native to tropical America. It has been recorded in Central America, the Caribbean, Florida (USA), Brazil, Columbia and Ecuador.
