Diseases and pests of characteristic Chinese herbal medicines in Zhejiang Province: occurrence and control strategies

Characteristic Chinese herbal medicines in Zhejiang Province boast a long history and abundant resources. The traditional "Zhe Ba Wei" (eight famous renowned characteristic Chinese herbal medicines in Zhejiang) plays a significant role in the market of traditional Chinese medicine. In 2017, eight additional herbs including Dendrobium officinale (Tie Pi Shi Hu), were designated as the "New Zhe Ba Wei". However, with the expansion of cultivation areas, due to imbalanced industry development, relatively weak research foundations, and lack of systematic and standardized cultivation and pest control management, the occurrence of pests and diseases has become increasingly severe, with incidence rates exceeding 90% in some severely affected regions. Furthermore, irrational and excessive chemical pesticide application has resulted in excessive pesticide pollution and residues that pose serious threats to human health. This paper systematically discussed the prevalent species of pests and diseases impacting both traditional and newly recognized "Zhe Ba Wei", along with their incidence rates, and proposes multidimensional integrated control strategies. Emphasis is placed on ecological regulation alongside breeding resistant varieties. The aim is to provide scientific references and guidance for managing pests and diseases of medicinal herbs in Zhejiang Province.