The occurrence of thrips on mango inflorescences.
Brink T.
Author Affiliation: Institute of Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Private Bag X11208, Nelspruit 1200, South Africa.
Yearbook - South African Mango Growers' Association 14 : 78-81
Abstract : The vast numbers of thrips occurring on mango inflorescences are of concern to many producers. The objectives of this study were to determine which thrips species occurred on the inflorescences in South Africa, and to determine the extent to which fruit set is affected by the thrips species present. Thrips occurring on mango flowers were collected in 1992-93 at various mango production areas in the Transvaal. Trials were conducted in a nine-year-old Zill and Sensation orchard at Friedenheim (ITSC). Eleven different thrips species were identified. Thrips tenellus was the most abundant species occurring on the mango inflorescences. The other species found were present in very low numbers, and some were only collected on a few occasions. Frankliniella occidentalis was collected on mango inflorescences at Letsitele. Haplothrips bedfordi was the only predatory thrips found. There was no evidence for the thrips occurring on the inflorescences having an effect on fruit set. The most important species of thrips occurring in mango was Scirtothrips aurantii, which causes lesions on the fruit, leaf malformation, and stunting of new growth.