Jasmine gall (bud) mite
A microscopic mite that turns flower buds and shoot tips into hard green galls, so no flower forms.
- Pest type
- Eriophyid mite (Aceria jasmini)
- Attacks
- Buds & shoot tips (turns them into galls)
- Favoured by
- A neglected, unpruned planting; the new flush
- Main risk
- Flower buds replaced by galls; lost yield
Overview
The jasmine gall mite (Aceria jasmini) is a microscopic eriophyid mite that attacks the buds and growing tips of jasmine, causing them to swell into hard, green, malformed galls instead of developing into normal flower buds. Where the mite is at work, flower buds are simply replaced by useless galls, so the flower yield is cut directly.
The mite is too small to see with the naked eye and spreads within and between plants on the new growth. It builds up on a neglected, unpruned planting and can ruin a flush. Management rests on growing a resistant variety (Parimullai is reported resistant), removing and destroying galled shoots, keeping the planting open and well-pruned, and treating the new flush with sulphur or an acaricide before galls form.
How to identify it
- Buds and shoot tips swollen into hard, green, malformed galls instead of normal flower buds.
- No flower forms where the galls are тАФ the buds are effectively replaced.
- The mite itself is microscopic; the gall is the visible sign.
- Builds up on a neglected, unpruned planting and worsens over the flush.
What causes it and when
- The eriophyid mite Aceria jasmini, which feeds on the buds and shoot tips and induces the galling.
- Spreads on the new growth within and between plants; carried on infested planting material.
- Builds up on soft new flush growth, worst on a neglected, crowded, unpruned planting.
Cultural & organic control
- Grow a resistant variety тАФ Parimullai is reported resistant to the gall mite.
- Remove and destroy galled shoots and buds to cut the mite population.
- Keep the planting open and well-pruned; start with clean, mite-free planting material.
- Apply wettable sulphur to the new flush before galls form тАФ a traditional, effective control.
Chemical control
- A recommended acaricide/miticide applied to the new flush where galling is heavy, before the galls set.
- Sulphur is cheap and effective; rotate with a different acaricide group if used repeatedly.
- Target the soft new growth, where the mite builds up, and repeat as the flush extends.
- Confirm the current product and dose for your area with your KVK.
Prevent it coming back
- Base control on a resistant variety, clean planting material and an open, well-pruned bush.
- Remove galled shoots at every pruning and picking to keep the population down.
- Treat the new flush preventively where the mite is regular, rather than after the galls form.
Crops most at risk
Where this problem is called out in our crop guides тАФ open a crop for the full package of practices.
Frequently asked questions
My jasmine buds are turning into hard green lumps with no flowers. What is it?
That is the jasmine gall (bud) mite, a microscopic eriophyid mite that turns the buds and shoot tips into hard green galls instead of normal flower buds, so no flower forms. Remove and destroy the galled shoots, grow a resistant variety like Parimullai, keep the planting open and well-pruned, and treat the new flush with wettable sulphur or a recommended acaricide before the galls form.
Which jasmine variety resists the gall mite?
Parimullai, a Jasminum auriculatum (mullai) variety, is reported to be resistant to the jasmine gall mite тАФ a useful choice where the mite is a regular problem. Combine a resistant variety with sanitation (removing galled shoots) and sulphur sprays on the new flush for the best control.
Symptoms and control measures follow ICAR, KVK and state agricultural-university package-of-practices; any named chemical is a registered use. Always read the product label and confirm the dose for your crop and zone. editorial policy.