A QUICK METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE CAUSE AND NATURE OF CITRUS 'WINDFALL' IN SIERRA LEONE

During citrus fruit ripening and harvest times in Sierra Leone, heavy losses of fruits, collectively called 'windfalls', are experienced. The cause of the loss has been attributed to fruit-piercing moths or windstorms. A quick indicator method was devised to pinpoint the cause and nature of the 'windfall' in the absence of windstorm in November. The method partitioned two types of 'windfalls' by the colour and pattern of reaction on rolling 'windfalls' over an indicator paper with a gentle pressure. The punctured fruits were caused by the fruit-piercing moths and this damage is minimal. Unpunctured 'windfalls' contributed more to the overall total 'windfall' and it is suggested that mealybugs would be responsible for the generally high percentage of 'windfall' during that period.