Research status and prospect on diseases and pests of Panax notoginseng

Panax notoginseng is an upright perennial herb belonging to the family Araliaceae and is a famous Chinese herbal medicine. As an important economic plant in the balanced ecological strategy of livestock and grass on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, P. notoginseng plays a key role in the economic development of Wenshan, Yunnan Province. In recent years, with the rapid increase of artificially cultivated areas of P. notoginseng, pest and disease problems have become more prominent, which has become a limiting factor for the healthy and sustainable development of P. notoginseng. Currently, there are seven types of diseases related to approximately 20 species of pathogens; at least 12 species of pests are found. Among the diseases caused by P. notoginseng, root rot disease is the most serious, with an incidence rate of more than 80%. Spider mites and thrips are important insect pests of P. notoginseng, resulting in a significant decrease in the fruiting rates of P. notoginseng. This paper reviews the existing research on diseases and pests of P. notoginseng and summarizes species and groups, symptoms, and control measures of the major pests and diseases affecting this plant. It also suggests promising research directions to promote basic plant health by applying knowledge regarding diseases and pests affecting P. notoginseng. This review provides references for the comprehensive control of these diseases and pests.