A Review of Identification and Management of Pests and Diseases of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume)

Abstract

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum Presl., Syn. Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) is an important spice crop grown in Sri Lanka and some other countries in Southeast Asia. Although cinna mon is a hardy plant, it is subjected to attack by a variety of insects and microbes. The major insect and mite pests reported in Sri Lanka and other Southeast Asian countries include, a jumping plant louse Trioza cinnamoni (Homoptera: Triozidae), a plant feeding mite Eriophyes boisi (Acarina: Eriophyiidae), Synanthedon spp (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae). The minor insect pests reported are the lepidopteran caterpillars Chilasa clytia, Graphium sarpedon, Orthaga vitialis, Dasychira mendosa, the fruit borer Alcides morio, and the leaf miner Acrocercops spp. The im portant diseases of cinnamon reported are leaf spot/blight caused by Colletotrichum gloeo sporioides and grey leaf spot/blight caused by Pestalotia cinnamomi. Phytopthora cinnamomi causing stripe canker and the pink disease caused by Corticium salmonicolor affecting stems of cinnamon and Phellinus lamaensis causing brown root rot have also aroused some attention by the researchers. The Identification and management strategies adopted for the above pests and diseases are reviewed.