Nature of Damage:
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Rusty reddish discolouration on the fingers. Yellowing of leaves and rusty growth over fruit.

Management:
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Destroy all volunteer plants and old neglected plantations. Use healthy and pest free suckers for planting. Hot water treatment prior to planting. Bunch covers (which cover the full length of the bunch) protection applied very early. Regular checking of fruit under the bunch covers is essential to ensure that damage. Bunches, pseudostem and the suckers should be sprayed Chlorpyriphos Soil application fipronil and bifenthrin Field release of predators like lacewings, ladybird beetles. Spraying of any systemic insecticide for the control of thrips. For controlling thrips infesting flowers and small fruits, spraying of malathion 0.1 % or endosulfan 0.075% or quinalphos @ 0.05 %. After spraying of insecticide cover polyethylene bag on the bunch. Removal of unfertile flowers will also reduce the infestation of thrips.