1.

DISEASES OF MANGO
Binomial Name : Mangifera indicaFamily-Anacardiaceae
Origen-Mangoes South Asia, from where the "common mango" or "Indian mango"
Mango is considered to be the king of fruit. India is the largest producer and exporter of mango
in the world. Mango possess unique nutritional and medicinal qualities apart from being a rich
source of vitamins A & C, besides its attractive form and appearance, delicious taste and
appetizing flavor, the ripe mango fruit according to nutritional experts is also highly
invigorating, fattening, laxative and diuretic. Every part of mango from root to tip is used in a
variety of ways. This crop is affected by many fungal, bacterial and other non parasitic diseases.
Major Diseases
 Malformation: Fusarium moniliformae var. subglutinans
 Powdery mildew-Oidium mangiferae
 Anthracnose-Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
 Die-back-Botryodiplodia theobromae
 Sooty mould- Capnodium ramosum
 Grey blight-Pestalotiopsis mangiferae
 Stem-end rot-Diplodia natalensis
 Red rust- Cephaleuros virescens
 Bacterial canker- Xanthomonas campestris pv. mangiferae indica
 Giant mistletoe- Dendrophthoe spp.

MINOR DISEASES
 Black banded disease- Rhinocladium corticolum
 Pink disease- Pellicularia salmonicolor
 Blight – Macrophoma mangiferae
 Scab- Elsinoe mangiferae and Sphaceloma mangiferae
 Phoma blight-Phoma glomerata
 Black-mould rot- Aspergillus niger
 Alternaria rot –Alternaria tenuissima
 Bacterial leaf spot- Pseudomonas mangiferae-indicae
 Dodder-Cuscuta spp

Mango Malformation Disease (MMD)

 Mango Malformation Disease is a fungal disease of mango caused by several species
of Fusarium, some yet to be described. Mango is the only known host of the disease.
The disease spreads on a tree very slowly, but if left unchecked, can severely reduce
yields. The main method of spreading MMD to new areas is through infected vegetative
planting material. There is no evidence that the disease can spread on fruit or the seeds,
or that it affects human health. It usually associated with the bud mite, Aceria
mangiferae but the mites have been shown to spread the disease within a tree and not
between the trees.
 Mango malformation, also known as bunchy top, is a very serious threat to the mango
industry, particularly in northern India. The Etiology of the disease still remains obscure
and diverse claims have been made about its causes, e.g., physiological, viral, fungal,
acarological and nutritional.
Symptomatology:
 Three distinct types of Symptoms are produced.
 1. Bunchy top of seedlings (BT)
 2. Vegetative malformation (MV)

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  3. Floral malformation (MF) (fig-1)

Bunchy top of seedlings (BT):

 Bunchy top phase (BT) appears on young plants in the nursery beds when they are 4-5
months old.
 Formation of a bunch of thickened small shootlets bearing small rudimentary leaves or
occasionally several bunches arising from a leaf axil at the top or lower down the main
shoot.
 These shoot lets are much thicker than main axis from which they arise. The shoot
remains short and stunted.
 The growth of the plant is stopped and it gives an appearance of bunchy top
Vegetative malformation:
 Induces short internodes forming bunches of various sizes. They are found at the top of
the seedling and give a bunchy top appearance.
Floral malformation (MF):
 Variation in the panicle formation, the malformed heads dry up in black masses and
persist on the tree for a long time.
 And the secondary branches are transformed into vegetative buds and large number of
small leaves and stems, which are characterized by appreciably reduced internodes and
are compacted together giving a witches ‘broom appearance.
 In other cases, the flower buds seldom open and remain dull green
Etiology:
 Fusarium moniliformae var. subglutinans. Wollenw. &Reink. Micro conidia are one or
two-celled, oval to fusiform and produced from polyphialides.
 Macro conidia are rarely produced and are 2-3 celled and falcate.
 Asexual fruiting body of the fungus is sporodochium.
 Chlamydospores are not produced.
Mode of spread and survival:
 Diseased propagated materials help in the spread of the disease
Epidemiology:
 The disease is serious before flowering in the northwest region where the temperature
is between 10-15oc during December-January.
 The disease is mild in the areas where temperature is between 15-20oc, sporadic
between 20-25o c and nil beyond 25o c. the occurrence of malformation differed
according to the age of the plants. 4-8 years old trees are highly susceptible
Management:
 Spraying with NAA at 100-200 ppm during October reduces the disease incidence.
 Eradication of malformed shoots and panicles after spring and autumn flushes (April
and October),
 Spraying with acaracide (phosphamidon 0.05%) immediately after 3 flushing
(February, May and October),
 Spraying with chelated copper (40 ppm) (mangiferin chelate or amino acid based
chelate or copper fungicide) twice (August-September and December –January) before
advent of the peak period of the fungal population,
 Spraying with chelated Zn++ twice (40 ppm) (December and February) to replenish the
deficiency in the plants suffering long from the disease.
 In in vitro test mangiferin Cu++ chelate killed the conidia and mycelia,
 Aspergillus niger parasitized the Fusarium
 While carbendazim arrested germ tube growth and reduced conidia production thus
affected infection rate (r) of F. moniliforme var. subglutinans.

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  Followed by spraying of Carbendazim 0.1% or captafol 0.2% effectively controlled the
disease.
Powdery mildew
 Powdery mildew is one of the devastating foliar diseases of mango affecting almost all
the cultivars. In India, the disease is wide spread including in the hill valleys and plains
of U.P. and it is a serious threat to mango production. Its severity mainly depends on
climatic conditions. The losses have been estimated upto 20% in Maharastra and 30-
90% in Lucknow and U.P.
Symptoms:
 A whitish powdery growth covers the stalks of the panicle, flowers and tender fruits.
 The whitish growth of the fungus comprising of asexual fruiting body an oidia.
 The affected flowers and fruits drop prematurely reducing the setting of fruits.
 At higher altitudes, the infection extends to the young leaves and twigs.
 Many of these are covered by the white powdery fungal growth and may exhibit
distorted growth. On younger leaves it induces leaf curling.
Etiology:
 Oidium mangiferae, Berthet. It produces septate mycelium and is hyaline, branched and
superficial. Haustoria are sub epidermal.
 Conidia are hyaline, unicellular, elliptical and are borne singly or rarely in chains
Mode of spread and survival:
 During off-season, the pathogen survived in intact green malformed panicles mostly
hidden under dense foliage and its sexual forms has not been recorded.
 During flowering period, the conducive environmental condition activates the dormant
mycelium in necrotic leaves.
 Abundant conidia are produces and blown over to the flushes through the wind on
young panicles which provides spore load for initiating the disease.
 Fresh infection on young leaves happens during first week of the December
Epidemiology:
 It usually occurs during Dec-Mar. The disease is particularly destructive in the coastal
areas of Maharastra during cold and wet seasons.
 Rains or heavy mist in the morning accompanied by cool nights during the flowering
period favors the disease.
 Predominance of susceptible variety, high wind velocity for 3-4days with maximum
temperature above 300c, minimum temperature around 150c and maximum relative
humidity of 73.3-83.9% and minimum of 23.4-25.5% are found conducive for quick
spread
Management:
 The disease can be managed by pruning of diseased leaves and malformed panicles and
three sprays of fungicides at different stages starting with Wettable Sulphur (0.2%) at
the panicle size of 7.50 -10.00 cm followed by Dinocap (0.1%) after 15-20 days of first
spray and Tridemorph (0.1%) after15-20days of second spray. Wettable Sulphur (0.2%)
can be used in all the three sprays and number of sprays may be reduced as per
appearance time of disease.
Mango anthracnose:
 Anthracnose is also known as blossom blight, leaf spot, fruit rot and twig blight. This
disease is severe both in field and storage. The disease is present all mango area of India
The verities neelam and bangalora are highly susceptible to this disease.

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Symptoms:
Leaf spot:
 The fungus attacks tender shoots and foliage. Brown or dark circular or irregular spots
are formed on the leaves and such leaves are crinkled.
 The affected portion dry up and fall off and leaf ragged margins. Often these leaves are
shed leaving the twigs bare

Month/Time of Stage of the crop Fungicides Quantity in

spraying 200lit of water

October end or For all the diseases Copper oxychloride 800 grams or
November start before flowering or Bordeaux mixture 1600g copper
sulphate + 1600g
lime

December Emergence of Wettable sulphur 600 grams

flowering initial 80% WP

January Complete Dinocap 48% EC or 200ml

emergence of Tridemorph 80%EC 100ml
inflorescence and or Hexaconazole 100ml
formation of tiny EC5%
fruits. For powdery
mildew and
anthracnose

February Pea size mango Carbendazim 50% 100gram

fruits. For powdery WP or 100gram
mildew etc Thiophanatemethyl
70% WP

March Marble size mango Dinocap 48% EC or 200ml

fruits. For powdery Tridemorph 80%EC 100ml
mildew etc. or Hexaconazole 100ml
EC5%

April Initiation of stone Captafol 80% or 400gram

formation. For die Mencozeb 75% 500gram
back anthracnose
Die back:
 The infection spreads to the green twigs and forms dark brown lesions on them. Young
branches dieback.
 On the lesions and dead portions, minute, pink, cushion-shaped fructifications of the
pathogen are seen during moist weather.
Blossom blight:
 Small dark spots are formed on the main stalk and lateral branches of the panicle.
Individual flower stalks are also infected.
 The flowers wither and shed. When severely infected. All the flowers destroyed and no
fruits are formed.

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Fruit rot:
 The tender fruits turn black and fall off. Often dark lesions develop on the fruits and
cause partial of complete shriveling, blackening and shedding.
 Matured fruits are also infected. Black, round or irregular, sunken spots are formed on
the skin. as the fruit ripens the spots extend over the whole surface accompanied by the
softening and rotting of the fruits.
 This type of injury is observed while the fruits are on the trees. it also occurs during
transit and in storage. Spoilage of ripen fruits is common.
 Fructification of the pathogen is formed on the spots.
Etiology: Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Penz, Spauld&Schrenk.
 Acervuli developed on diseased parts of the plants.
 They are irregular and appear as brown to black dots. Setae are common on twigs but
not on fruits.
 The acervuli when mature exude pink masses of conidia under moist conditions.
Marginal setae are rare.
 Conidia are borne on hyaline conidiophores. The conidia are straight, cylindrical or
oval, hyaline with two oil drops and are non-septate with round ends
Mode of spread and survival:
 Inoculum remains on dried leaves, defoliated branches, mummified flowers and flower
brackets and they serve as primary inoculum.
 Secondary spread is through air born conidia. The fungus can enter the pores of green
fruits.
 The latent infection of mature fruits may takes place through lenticels. The fungus
apparently infects the fruit while it is green and develops in flesh during ripening.
 The latent infection is carried from the field to storage. Healthy fruits develop infection
after in coming in contact with disease ones.
 The latent infection does not begin to spread until it reaches eating maturity
Epidemiology:
 The acervuli are abundant on the dead twigs and 80% of the spores on them are viable.
Fresh acervuli continued to appear on dead twigs and persist on the tree.
 The optimum temperature for infection was found to be 25oc and relative humidity 95-
97%. The perithecial stage of the fungus is not very common.
 There is no evidence to show that fungus perpetuates through ascospores.
Management:
 Diseased twigs, leaves and fruits, which fall on the ground in the orchard, should be
collected and all infected twigs should be pruned and burnt.
 Spraying of Bordeaux mixture 0.6% in the young plants during Feb, April and sept
controls the disease. Spraying carbendazim 0.1% or thiophanate-methyl0.1% or
chlorothalonil 0.2% for 15days interval until harvest effectively controls anthracnose.
 Before storage, fruits should be treated with hot water at 50-55c for 15min. or
thiabendazone 1000ppm for 5min. Spraying of coc +zineb after completion of heavy
showers followed by wettable sulphur 0.2% before flowering and carbendazin 0.1% at
15days interval from fruits formation proved effective.
Dieback:
 This disease is prevalent in all mango-growing states in India. In U.P.30-40% of road
this disease affects side and other plantation.
Symptoms:
 The disease is characterized by dieing back of twigs from tip downwards particularly
in older leaves.

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  It is giving an appearance of scorching by fire followed by complete defoliation. Barks
are discolored and darkened at certain distances from tip.
 Such dark patches are generally seen on young green twigs. When the dark lesion
increase in size, dying of young twigs begin at the base affecting leaf mid ribs extending
along the veins.
 The upper leaves use their healthy green color and gradually turn brown accompanied
by upward rolling of leaf margin. In, advanced stage, such leaves shriveled, fall off in
a month are more, leaving the shriveled twigs.
 Internal browning in the wood tissue is observed on the slitting along the long axis.
Cracks appear on branches, which exude gum. In fruits, the pericarp darkens near base
of the pedicel.
 The affected area enlarges to form a circular, black patch, which under humid
atmosphere extends rapidly and turns the whole fruit completely black within 2/3days.
The pulp becomes brown and softer
Etiology: Botryodiploidia theobromae Pat.
 It is a Pycnidial fungi. Pycnidiospores are hyaline and thin walled, becoming thick
walled, and dark brown and one septate.
 They have longitudinal striation and measures 20-30* 10-15micrometer with
paraphyses upto50micrometer long.
Mode of spread and survival:
 The fungus is a wound parasite. Dead twigs and bark of the trees harbor the fungus.
The spores are spread through rain splashes.
Epidemiology:
 High temperature during summer predisposes the trees to the disease.
 Relative humidity of about 80%, max. &min. temperature of 31.50 c and 25.90 c
respectively and rains favour the disease development.
 It causes great damage and when mango grafts are kept in humid propagation shed.
Management:
 Fruits should be harvested on clear dry days.
 Injuries should be avoided on fruits at all stages of handling.
 Care should be taken to prevent snapping off of the pedicel.
 Dipping of mangoes in 6% solution of borax at 430c for 3min. gives effective control.
Carbendazim 0.1% or Thiophanate-methyl 0.1% or chlorothalonil 0.2% spraying in the
field before harvesting gives effective control
Sooty mould:
 The disease is of common occurrence and affects many kinds of fruits and plantation
crops.
Symptoms:
 The fungi produce mycelia, which is usually superficial and dark. They grow on the
flowers, both tender and old leaves, stems and fruits.
 They grow and thrive on the sugary secretions of the plant hoppers and other insects.
 Black encrustations are formed on the surfaces of different parts of the plant. The
photosynthetic ability of the plant is highly reduced because of sooty mould covering
the photosynthetic area.
 During flowering time, its attack results in reduced fruit set and cause fruit fall. Black
coating is also found on the fruits.
 Appearance of the affected fruits is lost and the price for such ugly fruits is usually low.
Mode of spread and survival: affected leaves and other crop debris serve as primary source
of inoculum

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Etiology: Melioa mangiferae Earle. Capnodium ramosum Cke. C. mangiferae Cke. &
Brown and Trichospermum acerinum (Syd). Speg.
Epidemiology:
 High infestation with plant hoppers and the sugary substances (including excreta)
secreted by them and other insects favour development of sooty mould. This is not a
parasite or pathogen and do not draw any nutrient from the plants.
 Disease is severing in old and dense orchards where light intensity is low. Trees
exposed to eastern side have fewer incidences while the trees in center of the orchard
have more incidences.
 Continuous and heavy rainfall washes down these substances but high humidity proved
congenial for growth of the fungus.
Management:
 Both the insects and sooty moulds are to be simultaneously controlled in the eradication
process. The insects are to be controlled by spraying with carbaryl or phosphamidon
0.03%.
 It is followed by spraying with a dilute solution of starch or maida 1%. On drying, the
starch comes off in flakes and the process removes the black mouldy growth fungi from
different plant parts.
 Spraying insecticide followed by spraying with fungicide viz., Bordeaux mixture 1% is
also recommended.
 Spraying of wettable sulpher, methyl parathion+gum acacia (0.2+0.1+3%) at 15days
interval reduces the sooty mould incidence
Grey Blight/ Pestalotiopsis Leaf Spot:
 In India, this disease has been reported from many states.
Symptoms:
 Brown spots develops at the margins and tip of the leaf lamina and distributed
irregularly on entire leaf.
 Initially the spots are brown and minute and they gradually increase in size and become
dark brown. Black dots appear at the center of the spots represent the acervuli.
 On mature green fruits, small brown spots appear with grayish white center which later
turns to bigger lesions with large number of acervuli seen as black dots
Etiology: Pestalotiopsis mangliferae (P.Henn.) Stey
 The fungus produces septate mycelia and acervulus as an asexual fruiting body.
 Conidia are5-celled, oblong to clavate or clavate to fusiform, colored cells are 15-16
micro meter long, upper two of them slightly darker than the lowest olivaceaus colored
cells, septa and walls sometimes black and will have long pedicel; setulae 3, coarse,
widely divergent and 19-26 micron long
Mode of spread and survival:
 The fungus present in stem is multiplies under favorable conditions. It spread through
wind- born conidia.
Epidemiology:
 The fungus is capable of growing at temperature between 20-250 c. mycelia growth
sporulation takes place at pH 5.5-6.0. Wounding leads to more disease incidence.
Management:
 Carbendazim 0.1% after heavy rains followed by wettable sulphur 0.2% before
flowering controls the disease. Bordeaux mixture 1.0% can also used for the control.
Stem-End Rot
 It is a destructive disease of mange and it is known to occur in India and other mango
growing countries. In India it was first described during 1945. Since then it has been
observed in Delhi, Rajasthan, U.P` and other states.

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Symptoms:
 The onset of die back becomes evident by discoloration and darkening of the bark some
distance from the tip.
 The dark area advances and young, green twigs start withering first at the base and then
extending outwards along the vines of the leaf edges.
 The affected leaf turn brown and its margin roll upward. At this stage, the twig or
branches dies, shrivels and falls.
 This may be accompanied by exudation of the gum. Infected twig show external
discoloration.
 Brown streaking of vascular tissues is seen on splitting the twigs lengthwise.
 The fungus also infects the fruits.
 Infected fruit pericarp darkens near the pedicel base. More portions of fruit turn black
to soften.
Etiology: Diploidia natalensis (Pole Evans.)
 The fungus produces brown to black, globouse to sub globose, pyriform, erumpent
pycnidia that are ostiolate. Two types of conidia are produced within a pycnidium.
Hyline and olive-brown. The former are thin walled and unicellular, while the later are
thick walled and bicelled with 4-6 longitudinal striations.
 Mode of spread and survival: the fungus persists in infected plant parts, which serve as
source of inoculum.
Epidemiology:
 Relative humidity above 80%, max. &min. temperature of 31.50 C &25.90 C
respectively.
 Rains favor the disease development.
 Nutritionally deficient plants are heavily affected
Management:
 Plants with balanced fertilization resist the disease.
 The coating of stem with fungicidal paints immediately after harvest or packing of fruits
directly in the cellophane bags the infections completely.
 Removal of infected pedicel during fruit ripening also helps in keeping the disease
under control.
Red Rust
 The algal disease of mango has been observed in India and else where. Its major
distribution in India has been in Bihar, Karnataka, and U.P. the disease appeared in an
epidemic form in the state orchards in Tarai in 1956. Reduction in photosynthetic
activity and defoliation as a result of algal attack lower vitality of the host plant
Symptoms:
 The disease is characterized by initial green coloured patches, as and when disease
advances the organism turns red rusty spots on the leaves and young twig.
 The spots are initially circular, slightly elevated and later form irregular spots.
 The upper surfaces of the spot consist of numerous, unbranched filaments, which
project through cuticle.
 Some of the filaments represent sterile hairs while others the fertile ones.
 Spores mature, fall off and leave cream to white velvet texture on the surface of leaf.

Etiology: Cephaleuros virescens (Kunze).

 The algae after a period of vegetative growth develop its reproductive structure.
 Certain cells become sporangia. They are of 2 types.

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  Those formed directly on the thallus are sessile and thick walled, 40-50micrometer in
diameter with orange pigments.
 They are formed singly on the vegetative filaments. Some are produced above the
surface on special sporangiophores consisting of thick, rigid, septate hairs with a length
of 50micrometer, swollen into a vesicle at the tip. Each vesicle carries 3-6 sporangia on
curved pedicels.
 When the sporangia are riped, the contents are converted in to zoospores and liberated
through an opening in the wall.
 The zoospores are orange in color, ovoid and swim actively by means of cilia
Epidemiology:
 The disease is more common on close plantation.
 The zoospores cause initial infection.
 High moist condition favours development of fruiting bodies of the algae.
Management:
 It is controlled by spraying with Bordeaux mixture 1.0% or COC 0.1% or limesulphur.
Bacterial Canker
Symptoms:
 The disease attacks the leaves, leaf stalks, stem and fruits.
 On the leaves disease first manifests itself as minute, water soaked irregular lesions,
black and is surrounded by chloratic haloes.
 Due to vein limitations the spots become angular and result in cankerous patches, which
sometime dry up.
 Sever infection results in defoliation. The bacteria also infects the fruits first showing
water soaked lesions, which later become dark brown to black and causes sever
cracking of fruits, accompanied by heavy bacterial exudation.
 There may be only a few lesions on each fruit but more lesions on tender fruits may
lead to sever fruit drop.
 On branches on twigs the lesions become raised with longitudinal fissures, and are
accompanied by the bacterial gummy ooze.
Etiology: Xanthomonas campestris pv.mangiferae-indicae (Patel et al.) Robbs et al. it is a
gram negative rod, motile by monotrichous flagella
 Phylum:Proteobacteria Class:GammaProteobacteria Order:Xanthomonadales Family:
Xanthomonadaceae
 Genus: Xanthomonas sp: campestris pv. mangiferae-indicae
Mode of spread and survival:
 Infected nursery trees have been a major source of BBS in new orchards
 Bacterium enters the leaf through stomata and lenticels in fruit and through lenticels in
twigs. The bacterium survives in infected parts on the tree.
 The pathogen survives up to 8months in the leaves. Bacteria from cankers on the twigs
are the cause for primary infection on the fruits.
 Disease spread is rapid during rainy days. Disease spread to the new area through
infected planting material.
 When fruits are found in bunches disease spreads when they contact each other.
Management:
 Use of clean planting and grafting material and Use of certified seedlings
 Two sprays of streptocycline200-300ppm at 20days interval reduce fruit infection.
Dipping the fruits in 200ppm solution of agrimycin-100 is effective.
 Mango verities like Bombay green, fazali, Jehangir and suvarnarekha are resistant

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Giant mistletoe: Dendrophthoe spp.
Sytmptoms:
 Infect mango trees. The flowering plant parasitizes slendour branches of host tree at
intervals by means of bulged haustoria which serve has absorbing organs.
 It derives nutrient and water from the host and makes the host to die.
 The severely attacked trees are weakened and their productivity is lowered. Some times
the trees die.
 Phanerogamic Parsites: Dendrophthoe (=Loranthus) ampullaceus D. calcycalatus,
D. involucratus, D. longiflorus, D. parasiticus and D. philippensis, D. scurrula are
partial stem parasites
Mode of spread and survival:
 The flowering parasite survives in the host plant.
 The parasites flowers profusely in the host plant and produces fruits.
 Birds eat the fruits and excrete seeds on branches of other trees.
 Seeds of the parasites germinate during wet condition and establish on the new host.
Epidemiology: trees in poorly maintained or neglected plantations are highly susceptible.
Management:
 The parasite is cut before berry formation
 The branches or twigs showing the parasites should be cut about 2.5cm below the point
of attachment.
 The cut ends should be protected with Bordo paste
MINOR DISEASES
Black banded / black stem:
 Rhinocladium corticolumn Massee – [Syn. Pexiotruchum corticolum (Massee)
Subram.]. The occurrence of disease in mango was recorded at Pune. Now it occurs in
A.P., Goa, Gujrat, Karnataka, maharastra, T.N, and W.B.
 Black, velvety or felt-like growth is seen on the midribs and bark of twigs and branches
of mango. The disease is very low on main branches. The fungus develops on the
colonies of scale insects and therefore it is not responsible for the death of branches but
the scale insects are the primary causes for the damage of twigs. It presence a
characteristic and conspicuous black banded appearance. The mycelia growth and
clusters of conidiophores present a velvety appearance during rainy seasons which drop
off in summer months leaving light black bands on the affected portions. Badly infected
twigs and branches are to be cut and destroy. The surface of twigs or branches may be
scraped off and brushed with a solution of COC with insecticide to get rid of attack of
both.
Pink Disease
 Pellicularia salmonicolor (Berk. &Br.) Dater (Syn. Corticium salmonisolor) Berk.
&Br. Pinkish powdery coating on twigs and branches due to profused conidial
production are the Symptoms. Cutting infected branches and protecting the cut wounds
with Bordeaux paste controls the pink disease.
Blight:
 Macrophoma mangiferae Hingoraniand Sharma. Leaf tips dry. Infection spreads
towards leaf petiole and causes blighting. Removal and destruction of infected plant
parts and spraying with Bordeaux mixture 1.5% at weekly intervals controls the disease
SCAB:
 Elsinoe mangiferae and Sphaceloma mangiferae (Patel et al.) Dye. Round or irregular
pale brown to grey lesions are formed on leaves with intensification of infection. The
leaves become crinkled, deformed and defoliation occurs. Grey or brownish spots
develop on young fruits. They enlarge; become corky leading to spoilage of fruits and

10
 reduction of the market value. Repeated spraying with Bordeaux mixture 1% controls
the disease.
Phoma blight:
 Phoma glomerate (Corded) Woolly and Hochapf. The Symptoms appear on old leaves
only. Initially the lesions are minute, irregular, and yellow to light brown and scattered
over the leaf surface. As the lesions enlarge their colour changes from brown to
cinnamon. Fully developed spots are characterized by dark margins and dull grey
necrotic centers. In severe cases withering and defoliation of infected twigs occur.
Spraying with benomyl 0.2 % followed by COC 0.3 %was found effective
Black- Mould Rot
 Aspergillus niger v. Tieghem. The affected fruits show yellowing of base and
development of irregular, hazy, grayish which coalesce into dark brown or black
lesions. The mesocarp of the rotted area becomes depressed and soft. The stalk and
infection results in premature fruit drop. A fruit dip treatment with benomyl 155ppm
can control the rot.
Alternaria rot:
 Alternaria tenuissima (Kuntze: Pers) Wiltshire. The disease appears in the small,
circular and brownish spots, which enlarge and become irregular to form big water-
soaked patches. Reddish patches develop on the flesh below the spotted area of fruit.
Bacterial leaf spot:
 Pseudomonas mangiferae-indicae. The disease manifests by forming minute water
soaked spots towards the leaf tip. These spots form in groups and become black as the
disease advances, which are usually haloes. In severe cases these spots form in groups
and become necrotic. The leaf dries up in patches. The fruits may drop off.
DODDER: Cuscuta chinensis
 Mango trees are attacked by the total stem parasite, Cuscuta spp. The first appearance
of the parasite, dodder in the field is noticed as small masses of branched, thread like,
leafless stems which are devoid of the green pigment and which twine around the stem
are leaves of the host. The common colour is creamy yellow or orange. The leaves are
represented by minute functionless scales. When the stem comes in contact in host,
minute root like organs penetrate the host cortex reaching into the fibro vascular
bundles. The tiny, white, pink or yellowish flower occurs in clusters. A single plant
may be produces many as 3000 seeds.
 It perpetuates through seeds, which fall on the ground and remain dormant until a
favorable seasons returns. Clover, be seem, flax and many oil seed crops are commonly
attacked. The crop seed should be properly cleaned and should be free from dodder
seeds. Grazing animals should not be allowed to move through dodder-infested area.
Badly infested crop should be burnt and destroy before the parasite produces flowers
and seeds. Field should be left fallow after selected eradication measures have been
completed. Higher crop rotation beginning with non-host crop should be followed to
reduce its infestation.

11
 2. BANANA (Musa paradisiaca )
Binomial Name- Musa paradisiaca Family- Musaceae
Origin- South East Asia
Diseases
1. PANAMA DISEASE- Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense
2. MOKO WILT / DISEASE (Bacterial wilt)-Ralstonia solanacearum
3. SIGATOKA LEAF SPOT-Cercospora musae
4. ANTHRACNOSE-Colletotrichum musae
5. BUNCHY TOP-Banana bunchy top virus
6. STEM END ROT-Ceratocystis paradoxa
7. BURROWING NEMATODE- Radopholus similis
8. BLACK SPOT- Phyllosticta musarum
9. INFECTIOUS CHLOROSIS- Cucumber mosaic virus
MINOR DISEASES
 CROWN ROT – Several fungi
 BLACK SPOT/BLACK TIP/SPECKLE/PIN SPOT/ -Deightoniella torulosa
 FINGER ROT – Botryodiplodia theobromae
 PITTING DISEASE OR JOHNSON SPOT – Pyricularia grisea
 DIAMOND SPOT – Cercospora hayi and Fusarium spp.
 CIGAR END ROT – Trachysphaera fructigena and Verticillium theobromae
 SQUIRTER DISEASE – Nigrospora sphaerica
1. PANAMA DISEASE
 C.O-Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubens (E.F SMITH)
 Panama wilt is one of the most devasting diseases of banana crop in the world being
reported for the first time from Australia in 1874. In many countries banana trade was
affected because of the wide spread occurrence of this disease, Rasthali, groups are
susceptible. It is vascular pathogen.
Symptoms:
 Fungus blocks the vascular system and causes wilting.
 Older leaves yellowing is the Initial symptom
 The infected plant shows yellowing of leaf blades developing as a band along the
margin and spreading towards midrib
 The leaf wilts and the petiole buckles
 The leaf hangs between the pseudostems while the middle of lamina is still green.
 After four to six weeks, only the pseudostem remains, with dead leaves hanging round
it. The cut stem smells like rotten fish
 Pseudostem splitting is common in Fusarium affected plants
 The plants from suckers growing out of diseased corms also wilt and the whole plants
die.
Etiology
 Mycelium-septate, sporodochium is asexual fruiting body.
 Asexual spores are micro and macro conidia borne on sporodochium.
 Sexual fruiting body is perithecium and it produces ascospores in the ascus.
 Vegetative, resting structures are chlamydospores
 Mode of spread and survival
 Primary source of inoculum: The pathogen is both soil and water borne and also spreads
through infected suckers (rhizomes) and survives in soil as chlamydospores for long
period.
 Primary spread through infected rhizomes.
 Secondary source of inoculum: Soil and water borne micro and macro conidia.

12
Epidemiology:
 Soil temp-28 -320c, Relative humidity-85-90%
 Acidic soil PH (5.5 to 6.0)
 Red loamy and sandy loam soil and Susceptible host.
Management:
 Use healthy planting material. Collect the planting material from disease free area.
 Paring and pralinage, rhizomes are treated with dung solution and Smear with
Carbendazim powder.
 Use resistant verities like Robusta, grand naine.
 Based on Soil PH apply lime@.100-150gm per plant. Select nematode free soil, follow
drip irrigation.
 Chemicals-carbendazim@1.0gm per lit,(as soil drenching) or capsule (carbendazim)
insertion to the base of the rhizome or injection of carbendazim @ 10g/lit. to the
rhizome.
 Bio control-Pseudomonas fluorescens 60mg per capsule. Each capsule applies to the
corm. OR Trichoderma viride application to the soil along with FYM.
2. MOKO DISEASE (WILT)
 C.O –Ralstonia solanacearum (Yubucchi et al.)
 It was first recorded in Guyana in 1840. In India, the disease was first reported from
West Bengal. Susceptible varieties are Robusta, Poovan from Tamilnadu
Symptoms:
 Younger leaves yellowing are the primary symptom.
 Gradually yellowing progresses downward leading to drooping and drying of leaves
 Fruit bunch size gets reduced with immature and irregular ripening of fruits. Affected
fruits shows cracking with bacterial ooze
 Vascular browning of the fruit could be seen and light coloured vascular discolouration
is common.
Etiology: Gram negative, lopotrichus bacteria. (More than one polar flagellum), multiplication
by bacterial fission.
 Mode of Survival and spread:
 Primary source of inoculum: The bacterium is soil/water borne and also spreads through
infected suckers/rhizomes. It survives in susceptible host like banana and heliconia.
 Secondary source of inoculum: Bacterial cells spreads through irrigation water and also
through suckers uses for planting
Epidemiology: Soil temp 28-320c, Relative humidity 87-92%, PH slightly acidic to neutral,
clay loam and sandy loam soil and Susceptible Variety.
Life Cycle:
 The bacteria survive through infected rhizomes and also in soil for 6 months to 2 year.
 The spread is through use of infected rhizome, cutting machetes at the time of planting,
and through insects which carry the bacteria from oozing suckers and male flowers and
bracts to healthy inflorescence and other parts of the plant.
 Entry into the host is mainly through wounds such as those caused during various
cultural operations and during attack of insects and nematodes.
 The bacteria multiply rapidly in the xylem. Auxin balance of the plant is disturbed.
 IAA is synthesized by the bacterium and by the host and accumulates due to inhibition
of the auxin degrading system.
 Loss of virulence in the bacterium is generally accompanied
Management:
 Use disease free planting material
 Use resistant verities like Robusta and Grand naine.

13
  Affected plants should be collected and burnt.
 Give proper drainage and avoid movement of water from affected to healthy plants
 Drip irrigation method reduces the spread of bacteria.
 Chemicals: apply Copper Oxychloride @ 3gm per lit and Sreptocycline @ 0.5 gm per
lit as a soil drench
 Use bio agent like Pseudomonas fluorescens
3. Rhizome rot or Tip over:
 The disease occurs worldwide including India, Central America, Jamaica, and Israel
etc. Generally the disease attacks the young plants and cause germination failure mostly
in Cavendish and diploid group of bananas
Symptoms:
 The Symptoms can be seen both externally and internally. The external Symptoms are
failure of germination of planting materials when rotting of corm occurs extensively.
Yellowing of leaves and stunting of plants. The trunk base may become swollen or split
and results in the breakage of rhizome at soil level causing toppling of plants at the time
of fruit maturing stage or during heavy wind periods. Sometimes the base of the trunk
becomes dark in color with longitudinal splits. Diseased plants produce more number
of suckers.
Internal Symptoms:
 Presence of pale grey water soaked area in the white cortical tissues at initial stage. This
area then spread as finger like process inwards towards the centre of the corm, upwards
up to the growing points and outwards up to the daughter suckers.The affected area in
the corm become rottened, yellowish brown later on turns in to red color.
Pathogen: Erwinia chrysanthemi and E. carotovora sp. Carotovora
Disease cycle:
 The pathogen enters into the rhizome through the wounds or decaying pseudostem leaf
sheaths surrounding the central heart bud. The disease is spread mainly through suckers.
Management:
 Planting of healthy diseased free materials. Improve drainage facilities, soil aeration,
application of organic amendments and other cultural practices. Growing of sunhemp
as an intercrop for up to 5 months after planting. Regulate irrigation. Drenching the soil
around the plant with either bleaching powder @ of 8g/lit or emisan @ 1g/lit followed
by drenching with carbendazim 0.1% and streptomycin sulphate 500 ppm conc. @
2lit/plant two times at an interval of 10-15 days found effective in controlling the
disease.
4. SIGATOKA DISEASE
 First observed in Java, it has also been reported to cause severe losses in banana crop
in countries like Columbia, Mexico, Jamaica, Panama, and India. In India Andra
Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat.etc
 C.O-Cercospora musae (Zimm.)
 The disease was first detected in Java in 1902. The name "Sigatoka" was given when it
was found in epidemic form in the "Sigatoka valley" in Fiji island in 1913. The disease
is widely occurs throughout the banana growing countries. In India, it is prevalent in
Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat
Symptoms:
 Light yellow or brownish green narrow streaks which enlarge in size developing into
linear, oblong muddy brown to black spots.
 In central portion necrotic circular spots on older leaves, this spot leads blight and
splitting of leaf lamina. Then complete leaf drying followed by defoliation

14
  Yellow streaks and spot later turn brown and enlarge to form yellow spots with greyish
white center
Etiology:
 Conidia are elongated, narrow and multi septate borne on conidiophore
 Perithecia is dark brown to black. Asci are oblong. Ascospores is septate. Hyaline,
obtuse ellipsoid with upper cell slightly broader.
 Ascospores are sexual spores.
 Mode of survival and mode of spread:
 Primary source of inoculum: dormant mycelia present in affected debris.
 Secondary source of inoculum: Air borne conidia
Epidemiology:
 Warm temp 23 - 250c, rainy or humid weather
 Poor or badly drained soils and in shady areas
 Closer spacing, heavy Weed or grass cover and neglected crops
Life Cycle:
 The pathogen can survive on dry infected leaves on the field soil.
 It is spread through conidia and ascospores as air borne.
 Conidia are formed in humid weather throughout the year but their release and
germination depends on water or high humidity.
 They are dispersed by rain drop splashes and by wind. Ascospores are shot out violently
through the ostiole in response to wetting of perithecia and are dispersed by air currents.
They are responsible for long distance spread of the pathogen while conidia are
generally the most important means of local spread.
 The infection by both types of spores produces the same type of spots and subsequent
development of the disease.
 Sigatoka spreads fast in a humid weather or periods pf high rainfall at 230 -250 c. little
infection occurs at temperatures 210c- even if humidity is optimum.
 In dry weather with high day temperature and little dew during night the disease fails
to spread. Soils with poor drainage and low fertility favor the disease.
 Conditions which are conducive for increased humidity in the plantation are favourable
for the disease. Thus thick planting, presence of weeds and increased number of suckers
promote disease development
Management:
 Removal and destruction of affected leaves followed by spraying with Bordeaux
mixture 1% +linseed oil 2% is recommended
 Spray with oil based copper fungicides is also found effective. Carbendazim @ 0.1 %
or Mancozeb @ 0.25 % spray with spreading agents like teepol is also recommended
 Propiconazole @ 0.1% spray with spreading agent effectively manage the disease
5. ANTHRACNOSE/ FRUIT ROT
 It is serious disease in banana growing areas especially in Bihar, Karnataka, Tamil
Nadu. Almost all varieties are susceptible, but severity may vary, owing to severe
infection on table varieties. The disease is also called by different names viz., stem end
rot, neck rot, back end, finger stalk rot etc.
 C.O –Colletotrichum musae (BERK AND CURT)
Symptoms:
 It can be seen in the distal end of banana. The skin turns black. Shrivels and covered
with characteristic pink colored asexual fruiting body acervulus.
 As the disease advances, it spreads to entire finger, entire bunch and resulting in
premature fruit ripening.

15
  The shrivelled fruits covered with pink spore masses, which finally rot. Ripe fruits are
more susceptible than unripe fruits
 Latent Infection: usually originated in the field on uninjured fruits. When fruits
approaches maturity, the fungus resumes activity and cause typical lesions on ripe
fruits.
 Non-latent Infection: usually begins during or after harvest as small peel wounds and
continue to develop without dormancy
Etiology:
 Asexual fruiting body is Acervulus. Conidiophores are cylindrical, septate, branched
and sub hyaline towards the base.
 Conidia are hyaline, aseptate, oval to elliptical, flattened at the base.
Mode of spread and survival:
 Primary source of inoculum: The fungus survives as dormant mycelia for long time in
the fallen leaves.
 Secondary source of inoculum: Air and splash borne conidia produced from the
acervuli.
Epidemiology:
 The disease is favored by high temp and humidity. 30 -35 0 C temp and 85 -100%
relative humidity and also by fruit damage. Black end is the name given to the decaying
of stem end on single fingers whereas, Finger stalk rot are also known as Santa Marta
stem end rot or Neck rot and is common in complete bunches
 Disease is more abundant during rainy season. Ripe fruits in storage are more
susceptible than the unripe fruits in the fields. Cavendish is more susceptible variety
Management:
 In the field, distal bud should be removed when all the hands have opened to prevent
infection.
 Infected materials must be burnt.
 Fruit should be free from infection and as found as possible before it is transported,
stored and ripened.
 Banana bunches should harvested at correct stage of maturity. After harvested of the
bunches, they should be transported to the storehouse without causing any bruises to
them. The transported bunches should be carefully and cooling should be done.
 Fruit stored at 7-10 c.
 Pre harvest spray with Carbendazim@ 0.1% four times at fortnightly interval is highly
effective.
6. BUNCHY TOP DISEASE:
 Also called as cabbage top disease, first recorded in Fiji in 1889. Cavendish banana and
local plantations. Around 1940, bunchy top disease was observed in Indian states
Assam, Bombay, Kerala, and Tamilnadu.
 C.O:- Banana bunchy top virus
Symptoms:
 The affected leaves shows green streaks on the secondary veins on the under side of
lamina and on the midrib and petiole
 The powdery bloom covers the midrib and petiole, if this is rubbed off the dark green
line with a ragged edge
 Leaves become dwarf, they also show marginal chlorosis and curling. The leaves are
brittle in texture petioles are incompletely elongated
 The leaves become smaller and eventually the crown of the plant become composed
stunted growth, the rosette or bunchy leaves
 Fruit bunches are reduced, the lower hands of the bunch often die off

16
Etiology:
 Virus is semi persistent in nature, aphids are act as vector (Pentalonia nigronervosa
f.sp. cocquerelli)
 Virus particles are isometric and are 18-20 nm in diameter. Acquisition feeding period
2- 4 hours , incubation period 6-8 hours, inoculation period 2-4 hours
Mode of spread and survival:
 Primary source of inoculum: Affected plants and affected suckers.
 Secondary source of inoculum: Vector borne virus particle, spread more in summer
through aphids.
Epidemiology:
 The disease is spreading very quickly in hill zone, because the hill banana is cultivated
as a perennial crop and the aphid population in the hill areas is more due to conducive
atmosphere in these areas.
Management:
 Selection of healthy planting materials
 Regular field visits and removal of affected plants and suckers at periodical intervals
 Select disease free area for new plantations
 Avoid excess application of nitrogen, apply recommended dose of potassium, FYM.
 Proper drip irrigation in summer season is good
 Chemicals: For aphids control, application of monocrotophos @ 1.2 ml/lt, it is inject
by banana injector. And suckers planted in field, pits should be applied with 40 gm of
carbofuran granules
 Application of dimethoate (rogor) @2ml/ lt.
 Capsule application of 2, 4 D.
· FERNOXONE (5 ml is injected into the pseudo stem.)
7. STEM END ROT:
 C.O: Ceratocystis paradoxa (DADE)
Symptoms:
 Brown or water soaked patches on the rhizome.
 The stalks decay rapidly and their tissues become soft and blackened have a
characteristic sweet smell.
 The fungus spreads to the fruit where it causes uneven black discoloration of the skin.
The pulp is reduced to a dark brown soft wet mass and premature ripening of fruits.
Etiology:
 Mycelium is hyaline or light brown, micro conidia are small, cylindrical.
 The conidiophores are slender, septate, the macro conidia are produced on short lateral
conidiophores. Perithecia are light brown. Ascosoores are ellipsoid.
Mode of spread and survival:
 The fungus is both air borne and soil borne and plants are more prone to infection on
land where infected banana.
Epidemiology:
 The black head disease is most commonly found on plants showing abnormally slow
growth, particularly during dry weather.
Management:
 It depends upon eradication of infected plants, planting healthy corms and protecting
wounded surfaces
8. BURROWING NEMATODE
 C.O:- Radopholus similis
SYMPTOMS:

17
  Gradual yellowing of leaves, root discoloration, later it forms tunnels on suckers then
root decay, finally complete plant collapse
Etiology:
 Migratory endoparasite and obligate in nature.
 Mode of spread and survival:
 Primary source of inoculum: Affected soil and suckers.
 Secondary source of inoculum: soil borne, water borne nematodes (2 stages).
Epidemiology:
 High soil moisture and neutral ph and sandy loam soils.Suceptible host.
 Life cycle:
 The burrowing nematode has a migratory endoparasitic habit.
 Although the stages remain vermiform, sexual dimorphism is apparent with adult males
being somewhat degenerate and probably no parasitic.
 Eggs are normally laid infested tissue over 7-8 days at the rate of about 4 eggs/day.
 The life cycle from egg to egg extends over 20-25 days at 240 -250 with eggs taking 8-
10 days to hatch and the larvae 10-13 days to mature.
 All larval stages and female except male are infective. They invade at any portion of
the root, causing more root damage and are capable of spending their entire life in the
root.
Management:
 Use disease free suckers collected from disease free area for plantation.
 Initially affected plants should be pulled out and burnt.
 Use disease resistant cultivars.
 Avoid excess nitrogen application
 Give proper dose of potassium.
 5-10 kg of FYM apply root zone per plant.
 Carbofuran @ 10 -15 gm/plant with FYM, also application of neem cake @ 5kg/plant
 Paring pralinage should be followed (Shaving the discoloured parts on rhizome, treating
such rhizome with mud mixed with Carbofuran granules).
9. BLACK SPOT
 C.O: Phyllosticta musarum
Symptoms:
 Minute black spots on leaves and fruits
 The spots are brown to dark brown initially
 Spots are abundant on the upper surface and are raised
 Leaf become yellow in colour in advance stage
 On the fruits the pathogen is confined to the skin
Spread:
 PSI- The fungus produces pycnidium pycnidiospores
 SSI- Spores are disseminated by wind
Management:
 Spraying copper oxychloride 0.25% or Bordeaux mixture 1%
10 INFECTIOUS CHLOROSIS
 C.O: Cucumber mosaic virus
Symptoms
 Chloratic or yellow green lands on leaves, upward curling of leaves, mottling of young
leaves.
 Sometime heart rot symptom
 Diseased plants do not reach maturity.

18
Spread
 Through infected sucker and Aphis gossypii (an aphid)
Management:
 Destroy infected plants.
 Use disease free suckers.
 Arrest vector by systemic insecticide.
 Dry heat treatment of sucker at 40°C for 1 day.
MINOR DISEASES
11. CROWN ROT:
 Botryodiplodia theobromae, Colletotrichum musae, Botryodiplodia theobromae,
Fusarium roseum, Verticillium theobromae and Acromonium sp.
Symptoms:
 The disease is implicated in the more severe forms of main stalk rot in which splitting
of stem occurs.
 The disease is problem only when shipment is done in boxes and not in bunches. Most
of the deheaded bunches are susceptible as they are cut from main stalk and dipped in
water for removal of latex. Softening and blackening of the crown tissue during
ripening of fruits are the first Symptoms.
 The fungus also extends through the cushions and causes finger stalk rot and finger
dropping.
 It is some times associated with fruit spots and blemishes and in most varieties causes
extensive finger tip rot.
 The infection originates in or immediately below the decayed perianth or styles and
spreads uniformly along the fruit and cause a progressive brownish black discoloration
and softening of the pulp.
 The skin becomes soft, black, wrinkled and encrusted with pycnidia. Infection may lead
premature ripening of the fruits.
Etiology:
 Asexual fruiting body is Pycnidia and up to 5mm in diameter.
 Conidia are asexual spores, thin walled at first and become thick walled, septate mycelia
is present.
Mode of spread and survival:
 Primary source of inoculum: Dormant mycelia
 Secondary source of inoculum: Soil and airborne conidia.
Epidemiology: Temperature at 25 - 30 C, high relative humidity and wounds are the
predisposing factors
Management: avoid creation of wound, Use resistant varieties, storage of fruit at 10 C, dipping
of fruits in 100 -400 ppm benomyl.
12. CIGAR END ROT:
 Verticillium theobromae (TURC) and Trachysphaera fructigena
 In India it is reported in Andra Pradesh and madya Pradesh. It is directly related with
rainfall, and other countries like India, Egypt, and Australia
Symptoms:
 It attacks even in the immature fruits. In some bunches only some fruits are affected
and in others each and every finger shows the disease Symptoms.
 The initial infection in the perianth slowly spreads along with the finger and it causes
blackening of the skin and shrinkage and folding of tissues.
 The corrugated diseased portion becomes covered with powdery conidiophores and
conidia of the fungus and resembles the ash on a cigar end and hence the name cigar
end disease

19
Etiology:
 Conidiophores are usually solitary or in small groups. Conidia are hyaline, oblong to
cylindrical.
 They are borne at the ends of tapering phialides, aggregated into round heads. Conidia
are asexual spores.
 Primary source of inoculum: Dormant mycelia
 Secondary source of inoculum: soil and air borne conidia
Epidemiology:
 High rainfall, high humidity (90-92%), low temp, (18-22c) and susceptible host.
Management:
 The disease can be carried by other alternate host so eradication of alternate host is
important
 Removal of pistil and perianth by hand immediately after the fruits are formed is
considered as an effective control method the plantation should have enough aeration
by avoiding overcrowding of plants
 Placing polythene sleeves over the stems before hands emerge
 The bunches may be sprayed with copper oxychloride @ 0.25% solution along with a
wetting agent @ 0.5ml/ lt of spray fluid
13. BLACK SPOT/BLACK TIP/SPECKLE/PIN SPOT/ - Deightoniella torulosa
Symptoms:
 The fungus causes complex Symptoms. It causes black spot on leaves, black tip or black
end and hand speckle on fruit and also causes rotting of leaves and pseudostem.
 Fruit speckling or spotting are the most common Symptoms and reddish to black in
colour with a dark green halo around each spot
 Finger tip or black tip are associated with injury to the tip . Black discolouration appears
just below the flower ie., fruit tip.

14. FINGER ROT – Botryodiplodiplodia theobromae

 The fungus invades the fruits through wound and the pulp turn rapidly into a black,
watery mass. It spreads more rapidly as the fruit ripened and may affect the whole
finger. Greyish black mycelia on the surface is the characteristic symptom of the
disease.
15. PITTING DISEASE OR JOHNSON SPOT – Pyricularia grisea
 It begins as small reddish spot on the skin of the green fruit which are nearing maturity.
These develops into typical black pits of 4 to 6 mm diam. Spotting on bunch stalk
16. DIAMOND SPOT – Cercospora hayi and Fusarium spp.
 Raised yellow spots of 3-5 mm on the peel is the first Symptoms. The infected cells are
unable to expand as the fruit grows and as a result, a longitudinal crack develops,
surrounded by a yellow halo and are necrotic. These spots then shows characteristic
diamond spot. Pulp may be exposed in some cases.
17. SQUIRTER DISEASE – Nigrospora sphaerica
 This pathogen penetrates through broken stem ends and converts the pulp inside into a
dark watery fluid. When a badly affected banana is squeezed, the contents are ejected
and hence the name, which is common on singles.

20
 3. DISEASES OF GRAPES

Scintific name-Vitis vinifera,Family-VitaceaeOrigin- Europe and the near East

GRAPE-DISEASE
 Powdery mildew - Uncinula necator
 Downy mildew - Plasmopara viticola
 Anthracnose - Elsinoe ampelina (=Gloeosporium amphelphagum)
 Black rot - Guignardia bidwellii
 Bacterial canker - Xanthomonas campestris pv. viticola
Minor diseases
 Brown leaf spot - Cercospora viticola
 Rust - Phakopsora vitis
 Coniothyrium blight - Coniothyrum diplodiella
 Alternaria blight - Alternaria vitis
 Drechslera leaf spot - Drechslera rostrata
Fruit rots
 Pestalotiopsis fruit rot - Pestalotiopsis menezesiana
 Grey mould rot - Botrytis cinerea
 Blue/Green mould rot- Penicillium digitatum
 Soft rot - Phomopsis viticola
 Stalk end rot - Aspergillus niger
 Penicillium rot - Penicillium canescens
 Rhizopus rot - Rhizopus nigricans
 Cladosporium rot - Cladosporium herbarum
 Bitter rot - Greenaria fuliginea
 Bacterial leaf spot - Pseudomonas viticola
 Fan leaf - Grapevine fan leaf virus
 Little leaf - MLO‟s (PPLO)
FUNGAL DISEASES
1. Powdery Mildew:
 Powdery mildew is an endemic disease wherever the grapes are grown in the world.
The disease has been reported from the American continent, Europe, Africa, Australia
and Asia. In India, the disease is most common in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
Economic Importance:
 The disease causes extensive damage in whole of Europe and Western USA, sometimes
destroying the crop completely. French grapevine industry also suffered huge losses
due to the epidemics of this disease during 1850-55.The disease not only reduces the
yield and lower the fruit quality but wine prepared from infected fruits often develops
off-flavor (Ough and Berg, 1979).
Symptoms:
 The fungus attacks all the green parts of the plant at all stages of plant growth.
 The fungus produces white to grayish powdery patches on the affected plant parts
including fruits but young leaves are most susceptible and develop small whitish
patches both on upper as well as lower surface.
 These patches grow in size and coalesce to cover large areas on the leaf lamina and gets
twisted. Malformation and discoloration of the affected leaves are also common
symptom, resulting in distortion.

21
  Similarly, powdery patches are also produced on the stem, tendril, flowers and young
fruit branches.
 Diseased vines appear wilted and the stem portion turns brown.
 The infected blossom and berries turn dark in colour, irregular in shape and brittle. In
advance stage of infection, berries may develop cracks and such berries do not develop
and ripe.
 When blossom is affected, flowers may drop off. Affected berries become malformed
and skin cracks and pulp may be exposed under such conditions

Causal organism
 Powdery mildew of grapevines is caused by Uncinula necator (Schw.) Burr., (Syn.
Oidium tuckeri Berk.) which is an obligate parasite.
 It is classified as follows:
 Kingdom – Fungi
 Phylum - Ascomycota
 Class - Filamentous Ascomycetes
 Order - Erysiphales
 Family - Erysiphaceae.
 Genus - Uncinula
 Species – necator
Etiology
 Mycelia septate, external thin mycelia, haustoria sub epidermal, obligate parasite.
 Asexual spores are: barrel shaped, conidia borne on oidiophore in chains. Asexual stage
of the pathogen is oidium.
 Sexual spores: Ascospores inside the Ascus in the ascocarp which is called as
Cleistothecium.
Mode of Spread and Survival:
 It survives as dormant mycelia and as Cleistothecia on the shoots and buds from season
to season.
 The disease spreads by the air- borne conidia/oidia
Epidemiology
 The disease occurs in severe form from Oct- Nov in North India and Feb- June in South
India.
 Disease is favoured by warm sultry weather and retarded by sunshine.
 Warm winter temperature from 20 to 33.50C has been found to be the cause for
epidemic in Hyderabad.
 Disease development is adversely affected by rain.
Management
 Cultural practices:
 The use of training systems which allow proper air circulation through the canopy and
prevent excess shading helps in reducing the disease.
 Orchard sanitation is also important in reducing the disease pressure during the growing
season.
Chemical control:
 Fungicides like Sulphur, Dinocap, Benomyl, Triadimefon, Penconazole, Mycobutanil
and Flusilazole are used commercially although not as extensively as sulphur, to control
the disease.

22
  The use of fungicides for control of powdery mildew should begin during early stages
of vine development. Spray schedules at an interval of 7-10 days are usually required
for effective control by sulphur.
 Dinocap is to be given at an interval of 10-14 days while; sterol biosynthesis inhibiting
fungicides are commonly used at 14-21 days schedule.
 For effective control, the fungicide spray should start just after bud burst.
 The fungicides should be sprayed alternatively and the same fungicide should not be
sprayed continuously.
2. Downy mildew
 Downy mildew is most destructive fungal disease of grapevine and occurs in most grape
growing regions of the world. Before 1870 the disease was endemic to USA. It was first
reported in Europe in 1878, within short period of time, the disease spread like wild fire
in France and posed a threat to the vine industry .It was during this time that Prof.
P.M.A. Millardett discovered the Bordeaux Mixture against downy mildew. He
observed that the vines near to road side, sprayed with lime and copper sulphate mixture
to avoid pilferage by street goers, were quite healthy as compared to the vines in the
interior of vineyards (Millardet, 1885). Introduction of downy mildew to various
countries was probably by way of infected nursery/propagating stocks.
Economic Importance
 The disease results in cluster destruction and loss of vine foliage or photosynthetic area.
Almost entire crop fails whenever the conditions are conducive for disease
development. Under epidemic situations, vines may be defoliated, which results in
nakedness of canes and exposes fruit to sunburn. In the next season, vine vigour and
crop potential may be reduced
Symptoms
 Symptoms of the disease appear on all aerial parts of the plant.
 The disease is usually first observed as small translucent, pale yellow spots with
indefinite borders on the upper surface of leaves.
 Whitish downy growth on the lower surface of the leaves comprises of tufts of mycelia,
sporangiphores and sporangia of the fungus. On the corresponding upper surface, small
round to angular light green/chlorotic patches is the characteristic Symptoms.
 On the under surface of leaves and directly under the spots, a downy growth of the
fungus appears. The tissue in the spot is traversed by reddish lines.
 Later, the infected areas are killed and turn brown .The growth on the lower surface
becomes dirty grey.
 Tender vines are also affected. Infected leaves turn yellow, brown and wither. Flowers
die and drop off. Fruits become grayish, skin become hardened and shrivels resulting
in mummified berries.
 The necrotic lesions are irregular in outline and they enlarge and coalesce to form larger
necrotic areas on the leaves, frequently resulting in defoliation.
 Diseased shoots remain stunted. Infected leaves, shoots and tendrils are covered with
whitish growth of the fungus.
 Flowers and berries are also affected. Flowers may blight or rot.
 During blossom or early fruiting stages, entire clusters or part of them may be attacked
and become quickly covered with the downy growth and die.
 If infection takes place after the berries are half-grown, the fungus grows mostly
internal.
 The berries become leathery and wrinkle and develop a reddish marbling to brown
coloration. The fruit shed if the attack is very severe.

23
  The juice quality of fruit is found to be reduced. Infection of green young shoots,
tendrils, stems and fruit stalks results in stunting, distortion and thickening of the
tissues. Infected tissues turn brown and die.
Causal Organism
 Grape downy mildew is caused by an obligate fungus, Plasmopara viticola (Berk. &
Curt.) de Bary and the classification of the fungus is,
 Kingdom - Chromista
 Division - Oomycota
 Class - Oomycetes
 Order - Peronosporales
 Family - Peronosporaceae
 Genus - Plasmopara
 Species - viticola
Etiology:
 Mycelium is intercellular with spherical haustoria, coenocytic, thin walled and hyaline.
 Sporangiophores arise from hyphae in the sub-stomatal spaces and sometimes they
emerge directly through the cuticle.
 On young berries of grapevine they emerge through the lenticels.
 Sporangiophore branching is almost at right angles to the main axis and at regular
intervals. Secondary branches arise from lower branches.
 From the apex of each branch 2-3 sterigmata arise and bear sporangia singly.
 The sporangia are thin walled, oval or lemon-shaped.
 Asexual spores: Zoospores are pear shaped, biflagellate borne in sporangia
 Sexual spores: Oospores thick walled, diploid developed through gametangial contact
(union of dissimilar gamets, Oogonium and Antheridium) and are also called as
dormant spores
Mode of spread and survival
 The pathogen survives on the infected leaves and vines as oospores and dormant
mycelium.
 The secondary spread is through wind- borne sporangia and zoospores which are found
on the new flush.
Epidemiology
 The most favourable temperature for germination of sporangia is between 10-230C.
 Disease development is favoured during rainy season when there is heavy dew, relative
humidity is above 80% and temperature is between 23 and 270C
Management
Regulatory measures
 Restriction on the movement of planting material at regional, national or international
level should be imposed, since the pathogen spreads through dormant cuttings (planting
materials).
Cultural practices
 All infected plant material and pruned parts must be removed and burnt before bud
sprouting, so as to reduce primary inoculum.
 Even during growing season plant debris must be avoided in and around the field.
 Careful attention should be paid to spacing of vines, row direction and placement of
wind breaks, which will ensure maximum air drainage and minimum leaf wetness
duration.
 To encourage air movement within the plant canopy, practices such as, removal of
leaves around berry clusters, trellis designs and pruning systems which allow more air
movement be followed during the early development of vines.

24
  Careful disbudding and training of veins should be practiced to maximize distance
between soil and foliage.
Chemical control
 After pruning, the vines should be sprayed with Bordeaux Mixture 1.0% or Difolatan
0.2% or Copper oxychloride 0.3% or Chlorothalonil 0.2%.
 When the flushes are formed, spraying with Difolatan 0.2% or Chlorothalonil 0.2% or
Metalaxyl 0.2% or Copper oxychloride (%) are effective.
 It may be repeated at weekly or fortnightly intervals depending up on severity and
weather conditions.
 When the non-systemic fungicide is used during humid and rainy period spraying
should be repeated for every two or three days.

Biological control:
 Erwinia herbicola, a saprophytic bacterium, used as liquid culture and sprayed on vines
which inhibits P. viticola upto 75%.
3. Anthracnose / birds eye spot
 Anthracnose is a widespread disease in all grape growing regions of the world. The
disease is known in Europe since ancient times, however, in India, the disease was first
recorded in 1903 near Poona and is now widely prevalent in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh,
Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Under north Indian
conditions, the disease appears only during rainy season. In the southern part of the
country, the berries escape infection because the crop matures before the onset of rains
Symptoms
 The fungus attacks shoots, tendrils, petioles, leaves, veins and stems and also
inflorescence and berries.
 Numerous spots occur on the young shoots. These spots may unite to girdle the stem
and cause death of the tips and may also cause die-back Symptoms.
 Spots appear on the new shoots and fruits also. Spots on petioles and leaves cause them
to curl or become distorted.
 On berries, characteristic round, brown sunken spots resembling “Birds Eye” and hence
the name of the disease.
 On the leaves it appears as small, irregular, dark brown spots. The central tissue turn
grey and falls off. The disease appears as dark red spots on the berry.
 Later these spots are circular, sunken and ashy grey and in late stages these spots are
surrounded by a dark margin which gives it the bird‟s eye appearance.
 The spots are 7mm in dia but they may involve about half of the fruit
Causal Organism
 The anthracnose of grapes is caused by Gloeosporium ampelophagum (Pars.) Sacc.
{Elsinoe amphelina (de bary) Shear –perfect stage}.
 The fungus is classified as
 Kingdom - Fungi
 Division - Ascomycota
 Class - Loculoascomycetes
 Order - Dothideales
 Family - Elsinoaceae
 Genus - Elsinoe
 Species - ampelina
 Conidial stage is Sphaceloma ampelina de Bary . Conidia are formed in pink acervuli.
The are hyaline, single celled, oblong or ovoid . Perithecia (Pseudothecia) are small
and unconspicuous. Asci are globular and ascospores are hyaline, 3-celled.

25
Mode of spread and survival
 The pathogen survives as dormant mycelium in the cankers on the stem and on the
infected twigs. Secondary spread is through conidia which are carried by wind and rain
water.

Epidemiology
 The disease is severe during July- Aug and Nov- Dec months. Infection in new sprouts
takes place during rainy season. Heavy rains after pruning leads to more incidence
Management
Cultural practices:
 Training of vines should be such that water splashes should not reach the foliage, canes
and branches during rainy season
 Ground level canes and branches should be removed. All cankerous canes should be
pruned and destroyed by burning.
 This will help in reducing the primary inoculum during the growing season
Chemical control:
 Spray vineyards at the time of leaf emergence with Thiophanate methyl (0.1%),
bitertanol (0.1%), benomyl (0.1%), carbendazim (0.1%), or Bordeaux mixture (1.0%).
 At least four sprays of fungicides should be given during rainy season at fortnightly
intervals. Care should be taken not to spray the same fungicide regularly.
Varietal Resistance:
 The Muscadine grapes seems to be immune, Champane highly resistant, Concord
moderately resistant and most varieties are highly susceptible.
 Variety Delight is tolerant whereas, Bharat Early and Hussaini are resistant
4. Bunch rot
 Bunch rot, also known as grey mould rot or Botrytis rot and is prevalent throughout the
world wherever the grapes are grown. The maximum damage of this disease is noticed
in berries at the harvest time as well as during transport and storage.
Economic Importance
 Infection on flowers and berries is most important from economic point of view as it
lowers both quality and quantity of fruit. The flowers provide an excellent source of
nutrition to the fungus. The berries are resistant to infection during development stage
until maturity after which, these become increasingly susceptible. The famous noble rot
represents a rare case of rotted food stuff becoming more valuable than healthy one.
Under favourable dry conditions, following are heavy Botrytis attack, the mycelium
colonizes the berry skin and kills epidermal cells thereby allowing abundant
evaporation of water through cuticle. After drying, a raisin-like shrunken fruit is picked
up selectively. The famous white Auslese- type wines, the most renowned originating
from the Rhine Valley or Sauterne are made from such grapes ( Nelson,1951; Jarvis,
1980).
Symptoms
 The disease Symptoms appear on all plant parts i.e. leaves, shoots, flowers and berries.
Both young and relatively older leaves are infected by the pathogen.
 The fungus produces irregular, necrotic spots in the centre of the leaves. Under certain
conditions, marginal necrosis also occurs.
 Infected flowers normally do not develop any apparent Symptoms but necrosis of
stamens, the solitary ovary can often be seen covered with tufts of sporulating mycelia.
 The most prominent Symptoms of the disease are found on the berries. Infected berries
become dark coloured and show typical grayish, hairy mycelium all over their surface.

26
  Tufts of conidiophores and conidia protrude from stomata and peristomatal cracks on
the skin of the berry. Under high disease pressure, all the berries in a bunch gets
affected.
CAUSAL ORGANISM
 The disease is caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex. Fr.
 The fungus is classified as,
 Kingdom - Fungi
 Division - Ascomycota
 Class - Deuteromycetes < Anamorphs of apothecial Ascomycetes>
 Order - Moniliales
 Family - Moniliaceace
 Genus - Botrytis
 Species – cinerea
 The fungus produces grey growth on the surface of the fruit but in high humidity, the
mycelial growth may be cottony and white. The conidiophores are long, slender, erect,
hyaline, unbranched or seldom branched. The epical cells enlarged or rounded bearing
clusters of conidia on short sterigmata. Conidia are hyaline, ovate or elliptical to almost
globose, one celled conidia appear grey in mass. Black irregular sclerotia are frequently
produced.
Mode of spread and survival
 The fungus, Botrytis cinerea survives from season to season on the grapevines, rotted
berries and stem clusters in the form of mycelium, conidia and sclerotia.
 The conidia of B. cinerea are dry and largely dispersed in air currents.
Epidemiology
 The optimum temperature for sclerotial germination followed by infection is between
20 and 250C and in relatively dry soil.
 Sclerotia are more likely to survive longer on canes and these are probably more
important than those in soil as are source of primary inoculum.
Management
 Maintaining the sanitation in the vineyard is the most important cultural practice to keep
the disease under check.
 Diseased vines, leaves and fruits must be picked up and destroyed.
 Removal of grape mummies acting as primary sources of infection from vines at the
time of pruning and burning them.
 Fungicides like dicarboximide, procemidone, vinclozolin and iprodione are effective in
disease control.
 Removal of leaves in the vicinity of flower clusters and bunches helps in reducing the
disease severity.
 Some of promising new botrycides in grapes are triazole, folicur, sterol biosynthesis
inhibitor (SBI).
5. Black rot
 The disease after its introduction in France during 1880‟s, it spread to all grape growing
areas of Europe. In India, the disease has been observed in Madurai district. Black rot
is more distructive in warm and humid areas than in the cooler and drier ones. The
disease has been recently observed on certain purple varieties and it is less common on
the seedless and Pachha draksha varieties.
 The disease on fruit begins to show as light, brownish, soft, circular spots which
increase in size and the entire berry is discoloured.
 The decaying berries begin to shrivel within a week and are transformed into hard,
black, shriveled mummies.

27
  On the leaf, circular red spots appear and later the margins become black. Minute black
dots representing fruiting bodies of the fungus are arranged in a ring near the outer edge.
Causal Organism
 Guignardia bidwelli (Ell.) Viala & Ravaz.
 The mycelium is hyaline when young and it becomes brown after full maturity.
 Perithecia are globose, ostiole not prominent. Asci are clavate, thick walled.
 Each Ascus contains 8 ascospores. Ascospores are bicelled but cells are unequal in size.
Ascospores are hyaline, sub-ovoid or elliptical, slightly flattened on one side .
Mode of spread and survival
 Perithecia develop on mummified grape berries and the Ascospores are discharged
when mummies are wet.
 Ascospores produce germ tube and penetrate directly through the cuticle.
 Primary infection occurs on young leaves and fruit pedicles.
 Pycnidia are rapidly produced. Pycnidiospores spread through meteoric water.
 They may survive the winter and germinate in the following season.
Epidemiology
 Frequent rains and humid climate are conducive for disease development. 17
Management
 Diseased berries and leaves should be collected and destroyed.
 Spraying of Bordeaux Mixture 1.0% or Ferbam 0.2% or Captan 0.2%, Chlorothalonil
0.2% should be done when the new shoots are 15-25cm long and repeated before
bloom, 10-15 days after bloom.

28
 4. DISEASES OF CITRUS

Binomial Name: Citrus limon, Citrus medica var. limonFamily:Rutaceae

1) CITRUS GUMMOSIS: Phytophthora citrophthora

2) CITRUS POWDERY MILDEW: Oidium tingitaninum
3) CITRUS SCAB: Elsinoe fawcetti
4) CITRUS SOOTY MOULD:Capnodium citris
5) CITRUS ANTHRACNOSE: Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
6) CITRUS CANKER: Xanthomanas campestris pv. citri
7) CITRUS TRISTEZA/ QUICK DECLINE- Virus disease
8) CITRUS EXOCARTIS- Viroid disease
9) CITRUS GREENING- Phytoplasma disease
10) CITRUS ROOT KNOT NEMATODE: Meloidogyne incognita
1. CITRUS GUMMOSIS/ LEAF FALL/ FOOT ROT: Phytophthora citrophthora
Symptoms:
 This is soil borne fungi. Primary colonization is on roots as discolouration, root decay,
bark regradation at collar region and leaf falling.
 The exudation of gum like substance from the bark of the trunk, the bark cracks open
and in the later stages dries up and fall off.
Etiology:
 Aseptate mycelia, zoospore are asexual spores produced in the sporangium, oospore are
sexual spores or resting/dormant spores borne in oogonium
 PSI: Dormant mycelia and oospore present in effected debris and infested soil.
 SSI: Zoospore spread through soil, irrigation water.
Epidemiology:
 Cool weather, temperature 18-220C: 90-95% RH, High soil moisture, PH 6-7.
Life Cycle:
 There are 3 stages: 1) ASEXUAL STAGE: Zoospores borne in sporangium
 2) SEXUAL STAGE: Oospores borne in Oogonium
 3) VEGETATIVE STAGE: Mycelia with haustoria
 Oospores are sexual spores and also resting spores, present on affected debris for a
longer time (6-8 months). When the conditions are favourable, these oospores
germinate by producing germ tube, the tip of the germ tube swells to form sporangium.
 Initially sporangium is multinucleated structure, then each nuclei starts formation of
zoospore wall. Once these zoospores matures, they start moving randomly and burst
open the sporangium wall and become air borne.
 Air borne zoospores move certain distance, then they loose their flagellum and forms
circular which is the encystment of sporongia.
 Haustoria is intercellular, Mycelia is intracellular. Once the conditions are adverse
temperature increases, dried humidity, due to this fungi switch on to the sexual
reproduction, here male reproductive organ is Antheridium and female reproduction
oogonium between 2 gametangial processes.
 Oogonium is circular in nature, eunucleated, sometimes 1 cell or 4 cells are there.
Antheredium tubular in nature and multinucleated, Gametangial contact.Once union of
oogonium and gametangial takes place Plasmogamy takesplace. After Antheridium
lesicata takes place karyogamy
Management:
 Provide good drainage, there by it creats adverse condition and asexual reproduction
reduces and inoculum decreases

29
  Uproot severly infected plants, Replant with tolerant varieties.
 Application of Trichoderma (100 g per plant.)
 Chemical soil drenching of Bordeaux mixture 1%, Copper oxy chloride 3gm per lit,
and aerial spray.
 Use are resistant root stock for grafting.
 Avoid low lying areas for citrus.
 Avoid exess N application,apply recommended K Application
2. Powdery mildew: Oidium tingitaninum
Symptoms:
 Whitish powdery growth on young leaves & twigs.The affected leaves get distorted and
in severe condition drop down.
 Infected twigs exhibit characteristic die back symptom.
 Young fruits are are also covered by whitish powdery mass of the fungus and drop off
prematurely, resulting in poor yield
Etiology and Spread:
 Comparatively cool and moist regions are prone to disease development.
 Damp mornings with are few hours of sunshine favour onset of the disease.
 The fungus is an ectoparasite and absorbs food materials from the epidermal cells of
leaf through houstoria.
 It is a wind- borne disease. Septate mycelia, barrel shaped conidia born in chains,
ectophytiic, sub epiderml haustoria, external mycelia.
 PSI: Dormant mycelia.
 SSI: Air borne barrel shaped conidia
Life cycle:
 Dormant mycelia present in the affected parts. During congenial conditions germinates
and produce oidea.
 After maturity barrel shaped conidia releases, flight and land on host.
 Infection takes place by producing sub epidermal haustoria & plant start producing
powdery growth comprising of oidea.
 Oidea is an asexual fruiting body of the powdery mildew, barrel shaped conidia borne
in chains on oidiophore.
 Then they release, flight & landing on their respective host.
 Infection process continues asexually
Management:
 Prophylactic measures: cloudy warm weather, spray Wettable sulphur 3gm/ lt
 Aerial spray: Bavistin 1.25gm/lt,calixin 1ml/lt
 Wider spacing
 Avoid high density planting
 Avoid excess N application
 Provide recommended K application
3. Citrus scab/ verrucosis: Elsinoe fawcettii and Sphaceloma fawcettii
 Commons cab or sour orange scab - Elsinoe fawcettii
 Sweet orange scab – E. australis
 Tryone scab – Sphaceloma fawcettii var. scabiosa
Symptoms:
 Whitish, raised, circular, scabrous growth on the fruits, later the color turns to grayish
color, decreases the fruit size, quality and fruit fall off.
 Leaves: on lower surface of leaves whitish scaborous growth corresponding upper
surface, concave dippression can be seen.
Etiology and spread:

30
  It is believed that the pathogen perpetuates and survives in off season as perithicium.
 Secondary spread may be through the conidial stage, which is mostly produced on the
host.
 Conidia are produced between 7 degree & 33 degree celcius at 66-100% RH on young
lesions.
 Conidia from old lesions are dispersed during rains, but only to short distance
Management:
 Collect the infected leaves and burn it.
 The disease can be controlled by spraying with 1% Bordeaux mixture, difolatan and
benomyl.
 Chemical:Carbendazin-1.25gm/lit
 Avoid excess N application
 Provide recommended K application
4. CITRUS SOOTY MOULD: Capnodium citris
 It is not actually a disease of plants. The fungi purely grows on the surface by utilizing
the insect excreta or honey secretions by insects and plant. By growing such blacky
mold on the surface, abstructing the sunlight to reach the photosynthetic area (green
chlorophyll) of the plant and thus interfering in photosynthesis
Symptoms:
 Black colored sooty mass covering the leaf surface, sometimes on young stem, fruit
surfaces.
 Black sooty mass comprising of conidia and mycelia.
 Affects normal photosynthesis, thereby plant growth decreases.
 This is purely ectophytic and not plant parasitic fungi. By utilizing leaf exudates and
honey like substances secreted by insects and also insect excreta, this fungi grows on
the surface.

Management:
 1% Starch sprays, after it forms flakes on the sooty mass, along with flakes sooty mass
fall off from the leaves after drying.
 Spraying systemic insecticides to manage the insects population could help in avoiding
or reducing the sooty mold.

5. CITRUS ANTHRACNOSE: Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Symptoms:
 The disease leads to defoliation and tip drying of twigs, it is called whither tip.
 Shedding of leaves and dieback of twigs.
 On the dead twigs acervuli appear as black dots. Light green spots appear which later
turns brown.
 The pathogen also infects the stem-end of immature fruits causing fruit drop.
 In severe cases branches die back
Etiology:
 Septate mycelia, asexual fruiting body-acervulus setae are present
 Primary source of inoculum: Dormant mycelia
 Secondary source of inoculum: Conidia produce by Acervulus
Epidemiology:
 Warm weather, temperature 30-32oC, RH 80-85%, Cloudy weather susceptible to host.
Management:
 Collect the affected leaves and burn it.
 Avoid excess N application.

31
  Summer irrigation is best.
 Chemicals: Carbendazim-1.5gm/lt
 Benomyl-1gm/lt
6. Bacterial diseases
 CITRUS CANKER/ BARK ERRUPTION:: Xanthomonas campestris pv.citri
Symptoms:
 Leaves: Initially water soaked patches, these slowly turns to brown discoloration later
produce corky raised spots then leads to yellow hallow.
 Stem: Same as leaves but no yellow hallow, bark eruption takes place, from cracks we
can see bacteria ooze during warm rainy season.
 Fruits: brownish corky out growth and cracks formation and later crater like appearance
is the common symptom. Marketing quality reduces, fruit size reduces.
 During preservation it lead to rotting.
 Older lesions will turn tan to brown and have a yellow halo surrounding the raised
margin on leaves.
 Lesions on stems and fruit appear dark brown to black .
 Leaves infected by citrus leaf miner are more susceptible to infection by the canker
bacterium.
Etiology:
 Canker-infected leaves, twigs serve as the source of inoculum to spread the disease
from season to season.
 However, the cankered leaves drop off early and bacteria perish rapidly in the soil.
 Primary source of inoculum: Affected plant, soil
 Secondary source of inoculum: Bacterial cells spread through Irrigation water,
Agricultural operations, pruning shears.
Epidemiology:
 Prevalence of 20o-35oC temperature, high humidity and the presence of moisture on
the host surface.
Life cycle:
 The bacterium enters the host through stomata or wounds.
 It multiplies in the intercellular space, dissolves the middle lamella and establishes in
the cortex region.
 Canker pustules develop an exude bacteria in the form of gummy substance.
 They are freely disseminated, chiefly by wind and Considerable extent by rains.
 Citrus leaf-miner helps dissemination and infection of citrus canker.
 Leaves affected by miner and canker get distorted and drop off early.
 The injury to the leaf epidermis made by the borrowings of leaf-miner serve as an easy
opening to the canker bacterium and the canker lesion appear through out in the zig
zag manner.
Management:
 Quarantine: If area is disease free, restrict the entry of planting material from infected
to healthy area.
 Cultural: affected leaves, stem, fruit cut and burn, cut end portion of stem, paste with
Bordeaux paste.
 Hot water treatment root stocks 50oC for 10-15 min.
 Biological: Pseudomonas fluorescens
 Chemicals:1% Bordeaux mixture
 0.3%Copper Oxychloride
 500 ppm Streptocyclin

32
VIRUS DISEASES
7. CITRUS TRISTEZA/QUICK DECLINE
Symptoms:
 Leaf: Chlorosis is the common symptom, leaf size reduction, leaves drop off and
defoliated twigs die back.
 Stem: Bark eruption and pittings on stem (v shaped dipression on the stem and stem
twisting occurs.)
 Fruits: In the affected fruits thicknesss of the rind is increased, mesocarp decreases.
 Root stocks are susceptible, phloem necrosis is the common symptom, root
discoloration and root decay takes place it leads to sudden leaf fall.
 Primary Source of Inoculum: Affected plants, affected cuscuta
 Secondary Source of Inoculum: Vectors (aphids) (Toxoptera citricida), mechanically
sap/ grafting/budding
Management:
 Use the seedlings obtained from healthy seeds for transplanting.
 Use a rough lemon root stock and other scion, protecting plants from phloem necrosis.
 As the disease severity increases cut and burn the affected parts.
 Phased manner replanting with resistant plants.
 Hot water treatment of rootstocks at 45 C for 10-25 min
 Removal of cuscuta and spraying of systemic insecticide, Dimethoate 2ml/lt controls
the aphid vector population.
 Apply recommended dose of N P K and FYM.
 Heat treatment.
 Cross Protection: Use the pre-immunized seedlings with mild strain of the virus to
manage the disease and to avoid the losses
VIROID DISEASES
8. Citrus Exocortis
Symptoms:
 This disease is pertaining to bark, later stage bark discoloration and removal takes place,
yellowing leaf, leaf falling, plant may die on longer time.
Etiology:
 Mechanically spread through leaf to leaf rubbing, wounds, insect attack, affected
secature
 PSI: Cuscuta reflexa
 SSI: Grafting and budding.
Management:
 Seedlings are obtained by healthy seeds.
 Irrigation Management.
 Nutrient Management.
 Avoid N application.
 Application of K.
PHYTOPLASMA DISEASE
9. CITRUS GREEENING
Symptoms:
 Stunting of leaves, sparse foliation quick die back.
 Inter nodal length decreases, finally it looks like Witches broom.
 Poor crop of predominantly green and worthless fruits and only a portion of tree is
affected. Foliar chlorosis occurs such plants resemble zinc deficiency.
 Primary source of inoculum: Affected plants, through planting material

33
  Secondary source of inoculum: Vector borne, phytoplasma-leaf hopper

Citrus Greening
 Citrus greening is one of the most devastating diseases of citrus in Asia. Citrus greening
was first identified in South Africa fifty years ago. It is now found all over the tropical
and subtropical countries of Asia. In the Philippines, citrus greening is the main reason
why citrus production fell by 60% between 1961 and 1970. In Vietnam, up to 90% of
the citrus trees in some areas are believed to be infected with citrus greening.
The Pathogen
 The pathogen (the organism which causes the disease) is a bacterium, Liberobacter
asiaticum. The bacteria cannot be cultured, and so are known as fastidious bacteria.
They take the form of rigid rods, but are too small to be seen through an ordinary
microscope. They can be seen only through an electron microscope.
Epidemiology:
 Warm weather, temperature 30-32oC , RH 80-85%, Susceptible to host.
Management:
 Select disease free planting material
 Host eradication in the field, Phytoplasma affected plants, uproot & burn.
 N, P & K Management- 2 dose recommended application, Increase in K application.
 Vector control- Systemic insecticide, Metasystox 2 ml/lt aerial spray
 Antibiotic- Streptomycin 0.5gm/lt, aerial spray.
10. NEMATODE DISEASES
 Nematodes are tiny creatures which live in soil, or in the tissues of living plants and
animals.
 The juveniles (larvae) are tube-shaped, and look like tiny worms.
 Adults may be round or lemon-shaped.
 Adult females of some species, including the citrus nematode, are sedentary.
 They live all the time within a collection of plant cells which have been modified into
a feeding and breeding site.
 Most nematodes are so small (less than 2 mm) that they cannot be seen except with a
powerful microscope. Nematodes may be very numerous.
 A single handful of ordinary soil may contain thousands of them. Since they are in
effect invisible, they are usually treated as a plant disease rather than as a plant pest.
 Most nematodes which infest plants live in the soil and attack the roots.
 They pierce the walls of the root cells with a hollow tube (stylet) and withdraw the
contents of the cell.
 They may move into the cell, or move between cells.
Slow Decline
 Caused by the citrus nematode Tylenchulus semipenetrans
Distribution:
 The citrus nematode is a world-wide pest of citrus trees
Symptom:
 A tree infected with citrus nematodes may survive for many years after it has been
infected.
 The main effect of nematode infestation is "slow decline".
 Symptoms include the dieback of small branches, while leaves may turn yellow and
fruit are small in size.
 There are reduced numbers of feeder roots.
 While citrus nematodes are too small to see, the roots they attack may have a gritty,
knobbly appearance because of the egg masses which cling to them.

34
  A definite diagnosis must be made in a laboratory with a good microscope.
 Growers can expect some citrus nematodes to be present in most orchard soils.
 They do not become a problem unless populations are very high (i.e. more than 10,000
larvae per 500g of soil).
 Growers who are planting new orchards must be very careful not to introduce
nematodes accidentally, in the soil around the roots of seedlings.
 If a large number of nematodes are already present in the soil, the best protection is to
use resistant rootstock such as trifoliate orange or Troyer citrange.
Life Cycle:
 The typical life cycle for this nematode is: Egg, 4 larval satges and Adult female

11. Citrus Root Knot Nematode: Meloidogyne incognita

Symptoms:
 Aerial Symptoms: yellowing of leaves and reduced plant growth and eventually
reduction in yield.
 Below ground Symptoms: Formation of galls on roots.
 The nematode is sedentary endoparasite, feeds on the affected part and complete its life
cycle on the same gall.
 Primary source of inoculum: Infected soil, host
 Secondary source of inoculum: Spread through planting material, agriculture operation
Epidemiology:
 Optimum soil moisture-50-60%, Sandy loam soils, Neutral PH, Susceptible host
Management:
 Summer ploughing reduces the inoculum load in the soil
 Application of carbofuran 10-15gm with 5-10 kg FYM.
 Application of VAM( Vesicular arbescular mycorrhiza)
 Application of Neem cake 5 kg/ plant.
 Soil type: Clay loam soil reduces nematode multiplication.
 Drip irrigation avoids movement of nematode from plant to plant.
 Use of resistance varieties.
POST HARVEST DISEASES
12. Green / Blue mold rot: Penicillium digitatum and P. italicum
 Green/Blue Mold: Penicillium digitatum.
 Green/Blue mold are common post harvest diseases of all citrus growing areas of the
country, particularly those with a cooler climate or those which use cold storage for
citrus fruit.
Symptoms:
 The first symptom is a tiny soft, watery spot 5-10 mm in diameter.
 The earliest symptom is a soft water soaked areas on the peel of the fruit and soon
becoming covered with white mould in both the cases. Coloured spores formed at the
centre of the lesions. In green mould rot, whitish margin is generally not more than 2
mm diameter. These two mould appear frequently together during transport and storage.
But green mould is generally dominate as it grows rapidly at moderate temperature.
Insect injury especially with Mediterranean fruit fly when the fruits are still on the trees
which pre-harvest infection which are undetectable and also wounds caused during
harvesting and handling are the predisposing factors.
 The decayed fruit becomes soft and shrinks in size. If the atmosphere is humid, the
infected fruit also becomes attacked by other molds and bacteria, and soon collapses
into a rotted mass.

35
Epidemiology:
 Green mold tends to develop most rapidly at temperatures near 240C.
 Growth is much slower if the temperature is above 30C.
 It is particularly common on fruit harvested in the middle of the season.
Mode of spread:
 The fungus survives in the orchard from season to season mainly in the form of conidia.
Infection is from airborne spores, which enter the peel of the fruit in places where there
are small injuries or blemishes.
 It can also invade fruit which have been damaged on the tree by chilling injury. Infected
fruit in storage do not infect the fruit packed around them.
 However, infected fruit may give off abundant green fungus spores which spoil the skin
of adjacent fruit.
 Since it attacks only injured fruit, the best way to prevent green mold is to handle the
fruit carefully during and after harvest.
13. Alternaria rot: Alternaria alternata and A. Citri.
 The first Symptoms of the disease is seen on the fruits as watery rot. But before this,
internal Symptoms were taken place. The internal Symptoms varies with the species of
crop In lemon, the pulp becomes greysh brown, soft and slimy. In oranges, grapefruits
and mandarins, the affected internal tissue is black giving rise to a common name as
Black rot or Black centre rot. In Mandarins, lesions often develop on the side of the
fruit and the infected peel appears brown and hence the name, Brown spot of mandarins.
In certain other cases, the Symptoms consist of corky eruptions and pits.
14. Black mold or Aspergillus rot: (Aspergillus niger)
 The rot may be mostly internal. Masses of black powdery spores are apparent only
when the fruits are cut open. But, a very soft sunkened water soaked spots may develop
on the peel, later giving rise to black spores resembling “soot”. The decay is
accompanied by odour of fermentation. Infection is observed while the fruits are still
on the tree but, they look sound externally.
15. Black spot: Phyllosticta citricarpa
 Various types of Symptoms can be seen in this disease. Early infection may result in
the appearance like “Melanose”. Infection of immature fruits may also leads to “hard
spot” or “limited spots” with a hallow centre. “Freckled sot” or “speckled blotch” is
seen in fruits nearing maturity and develops further during storage. “Virulent spot” is
observed late in the season when temperature is high and is characterized by irregular
reddish sunken lesions.
16. Brown rot: Phytophthora spp.
 Greyish brown spots are seen on the fruits. Infected fruits emit a characteristic pungent
odour Under humid conditions, fine white spore bearing mould develops on the peel
and spread to neighbouring fruits. Rotting is very rapid at 25oC.
17. Sour rot: Geotrichum candidum
 Water soaked spots on the fruits are the first Symptoms of the disease but not
discoloured. The surface of the lesion becomes covered with slimy off white spores and
fruit tissue beneath
18. Grey mold rot: Botrytis cinerea
 Rotting may begin at the stem end or on the side of the fruit. The lesion is mid brown
at first and firm and later darkens and become soft. “Nest” of decay develop and a mass
of grey brown spores are formed under humid conditions.
19. Melanose : Phomopsis citri (= Diaporthe citri)

36
  Small raised, reddish brown to black pustules are present on the peel making it rough
to touch. The small spots are randomly distributed and exhibit a “Tear Stain” pattern.
(Melanose is non=progressive skin blemish). As the fruit develops, the fungus dies
back.
20. Black pit: Pseudomonas sytingae pv. syringae
 The first Symptoms are light brown spots on the skin of the fruits, later becoming dark
brown and eventually black with markedly sunkened. There may be concentric rings of
brown and on close examination, a small wound in the centre of each spot can be seen.
Under moist conditions, grayish yellow droplets exude from the lesions but the tissue
below the spot remains firm.
Precautions to avoid the post harvest diseases:
 1. Wash the harvested fruits in heated disinfectants and rinse them.
 2. Drying, grading, dying, waxing and packaging should be done without making injury
or damage.
 3. Remove decay or suspected fruits.
 4. A range of chemicals should be used to avoid various kinds of pathogen (Topsin,
Benlate, etc.)
 5. Provide optimum storage conditions ie., around 10oC.
 6. Ethylene sensitive commodities should nbot be stored near to citrus.
 7. Moisture loss of fruits can be reduced by waxing or by sealing with high density
polythene film.

37
 5. Diseases of Guava

Binomial Name: Psidium guajava L. I Family:Myrtaceae

1. Wilt: Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. psidii,
2. Fruit canker : Pestalotiopsis psidii
3. Stem canker : Physalospora psidii
4. Anthracnose: Gloeosporium psidii (=Collectotrichum psidii)
5. Red rust: Cephaleuros virescens
Minor diseases
 1. Leaf spot: Cercospora psidii
 2. Phomopsis fruit rot: Phomopsis psidii

1. Fusarium wilt : Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. psidii

 Occurrence of serious wilt was reported from Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar
Pradesh and West Bengal.
Symptoms:
 The disease is characterised by yellowing and browning of leaves, discolouration of the
stem and death of the branches along one side. Sometimes the infection girdles the stem
and the whole plant may wilt. Leaves die and the twig barks split.
Pathogen:
 Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. psidii Prasad, Mehta and Lall. F.solani (Mart.) Sacc.,
Mycelium is white or pink with a purple tinge. Microconidia are borne on simple
phialides arising laterally on the hyphae. Microconidia are oval to ellipsoid, cylindrical,
straight to curved and 7 to 10 x 2 to 3 pm. Macroconidia are 3 to 4 septate and 32 to 50
x 3 to 7 um in size. They are fusoid to subulate and pointed at both ends. Sporodochia
and spinanodes are present. Chlamydospores may be intercalary or terminal.
 Asexual spores : Micro & macro conidia
 Vegetative spores : Chlamydospores (Resting spores)
 Sexual spores : Ascospores borne in ascus
 Primary source of inoculum: Soil borne inoculum in the form of chlamydospores and
infected plant parts.
 Secondary source of inoculum: inoculums produced on the infected host
 Mode of spread and survival: The fungus first colonizes on the surface of the roots and
enters the stem tissues at the basal portions near the ground level. It multiplies in
vascular region and affects the cortical cells.
 Epidemiology: Higher disease incidence is noticed during the monsoon period. The
disease appears in August and increases sharply during September - October. It is
severe in alkaline soils.
Management:
 Dry branches should be cut off and wilted plants uprooted.
 Soil should be treated with lime or gypsum to make the soil pH 6.0 to 6.5 balanced
nutrition of host reduces seventy of the disease when organic nitrogen is supplied.
 The soil of the pits should be treated with 37 to 40 per cent formaldehyde (45ml of
formaldehyde plus 270 ml of water plus 35kg of soil).
 This treatment has to be covered with a polythene sheet for at least 15 to 20 days. When
the traces of formalin disappears, the pits are filled with this soil after planting the tree
 Soil drenching of Carbendazim 1.5g/lit considerably reduces the disease
2. Fruit canker/Scab/Grey blight: Pestalotiopsis psidii

38
Symptoms:
 Infection generally occurs on green fruits.
 Minute, brown or rust- coloured, unbroken, circular, scabby lesions of 2 to 4 mm dia
appear on the fruit which later tear the epidermis open in a circinate manner.
 The margin of the affected area becomes raised.
 The scab disfigures the fruits and their market value is highly reduced.
 Primary source of inoculum: Dormant mycelia. Helopeltis antonii, a kajji bug which
punctures the young fruit sucking juice and that damage exposes the fruit to infection
by the pathogen.
 Secondary source of inoculum: Air borne conidia
 Mode of spread: spread is through the wind-borne conidia.
Epidemiology:
 The fungus is capable of growing at temperature between 20 and 25°C.
 Mycelial growth with intensive sporulation takes place at 5.5°C.
 Wounding results in quick attack by the fungus.
Management:
 Since the wound by insect predisposes the fruit to infection, spray the young fruits after
pollination with a suitable systemic insecticide (Dimethoate – 2ml/l) will take care of
the infection.
 Spread of the disease can be checked by three or four spraying with Bordeaux
mixture1.0 percent or copper oxy chloride 0.2 per center.
 Summer irrigation +Nutritional Management reduces the disease
3. Stem canker: Physalospora psidii
Symptoms:
 Affected twigs show wilting and death.
 Cracks and lesions are formed along the stem, ar- resting translocation of nutrients.
 Infected fruits turn dark brown to black and dries up resulting in die-back Symptoms.
 Fruit rotting takes place, blighting of leaves to enlargement
 Fungus: Physalospora psidii Stev. & Pier. Perithecia is glabrous with a fleshy wall.
Ascospores are hyaline, narrow, ellipsoid and one celled.
 Conidia are single celled, ovoid with a rough wall and measure 20 to 26 x 9 to 12 jam.
On the stems and fruits pycnidia are formed in stroma.
Mode of spread and survival:
 The pathogen remains in the infected tissues beneath the bark and become active under
favorable conditions.
Management:
 In severe infection, the disease can be prevented by the removal and destruction of the
infected stem.
 In mild infection, pruning of infected stem and branches is done and the cut-ends are
painted with Bordeaux paste (1 part copper sulphate and 2 parts each of lime and
linseed oil) or Chaubatia paste (copper carbonate - 800 g, red lead - 800 g and linseed
oil - 1 litre).
 Spraying the trees with copper oxychloride 0.2 per cent after pruning reduces canker
incidence.
4. Anthracnose/Die-back/Fruit spot/Twig blight: Glomerella psidii (= Colletotrichum
psidii)
 The disease is a serious problem in Karnataka, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
Symptoms:
 The disease attacks all plant parts except roots.
 Severity of the disease may show die-back of main branches resulting in death of plants.

39
  The most characteristic Symptoms appear during the rainy season as small pin-head
sized spots on the unripe fruits.
 They gradually enlarge to form sunken and circular, dark brown to black spots.
 The infected area of the unripe fruits become harder and corky.
 Acervuli are formed on fruit stalks.
 Pathogen: Gloeosporium psidii Delacr. (Perfect stage: Glomerella psidii (Del.) Sheld.)
Conidia are hyaline, aseptate, oval to elliptical or straight, cylindrical, obtuse apices or
flattened at base. Conidiophore is cylindrical and tapers towards apex.
 It is hyaline and septate with single terminal phialide. Acervuli are dark brown to black.
Mode of spread and survival:
 The pathogen remains dormant for about three months in the young infected fruits.
 It becomes active and incites rot when the fruit begins to ripe. In moist weather, acervuli
appear as black dots scattered throughout the dead parts of the twigs.
 From the twigs, the fungus penetrates the petioles and attacks the young leaves, which
become distorted with dead areas at margins or tips. The conidia are spread by wind or
rain.
Epidemiology:
 The cool season (Jan - Mar) and the hot, dry weather (Apr-Jun) prevent the spread of
infection.
 In moist weather, acervuli are produced in abundance on dead twigs and pinkish spore
masses are seen. Conidia initiate fresh infection.
 The temperature for disease development on fruits ranges from 30 to35°C.
Management:
 Spraying the trees with Bordeaux mixture 1.0 per cent or copper oxychloride 0.2 per
cent or Carbendazim 0.1% before the onset of monsoon reduces the disease incidence.
 Apple Guava (light red fleshed) is moderately resistant to anthracnose
5. Red rust: Cephaleuros virescens
 This disease is exceptionally severe in guava.
Symptoms:
 The alga produces specks to big patches on the leaves. They may be crowded or
scattered.
 The pathogen extends between cuticle and epidermis and penetrates the epidermal
cells.
 Fruit infection by alga is not common on fruits. Fruit lesions are usually smaller than
leaf spots.
 They are dark green to brown or black in colour.
 Primary source of inoculum: Dormant mycelia
 Secondary source of inocu,um: Zoospores
 Alga: Cephaleuros virescens Kunze
Mode of spread and survival:
 The disease is more common on closely planted mother plants. The zoospores cause
the initial infection.
 High moist condition favours the development of fruiting bodies of the alga.
Management: This algal disease is controlled by spraying with Bordeaux mixture 1.0 per cent
or copper oxychloride 0.3 per cent..

Minor diseases
6. Leaf spots: Cercospora psidii
 The disease appears as water-soaked, irregular patches which look brown on the lower
surface of the leaves.

40
  Old leaves are mostly affected and the severely affected ones curl and subsequently
drop off.
 Affected leaves show round or lightly irregular spots, brownish-red in colour.
 The central portion of the spot turns white. These spots coalesce to form large irregular,
white patches surrounded by a brownish margin.
 These leaf spot diseases are checked by spraying with copper oxychloride 0.3 per cent.
7. Phomopsis fruit rot: Phomopsis psidii Camara.
 The Symptoms appear on unripe fruits at the blossom-end.
 Infected fruits show small, conspicuous, white or light brown and circular spots. Some
of the infected fruits are shed prematurely.
 As the fruits ripen, the spots extend and cover the fruit surface. The infected tissues
become softer and emit an undesirable odour.
 Weekly sprays with Bordeaux mixture 1.0 per cent or copper oxychloride 0.3 per cent
are required for the control of fruit rot.
 Six monthly sprays with Mancozeb 0.2 per cent during fruiting stage are helpful in
controlling fruit rot.
8. Sooty mould: capnodium psidii
Symptoms:
 It is ectophytic fungus and not a parasite. Black superficial growth on entire surface of
leaves and twigs. Under dry spell such affected leaves curl & shrivel.
 During flowering time the appearance of the disease results in reduced fruit set and
fruit fall. Blackish powder like fungal conidial structures covered on the leaf surface.
 The fungus grows on the excreta and honey secretions of insects as black sooty mass
of spores and will not invade plant tissue.
 Disease severity increases in increased population of leaf hoppers, aphids and other
insects. Impact of this disease on host is photosynthesis activity and yield decreases
 Primary source of inoculum: Dormant mycelia :
 Secondary source of inoculum: Air borne conidia: Spread : Insects, Aphids, wind
Epidemiology:
 28 -320C Temperature 85-90% RH, Warm Weather and susceptible host
Management
 Sprays of wettable sulphur 0.2% along with insecticide Dimethoate 1.5ml/lit
Spray of 1% starch solution makes flakes of the fungus and due to small wind falls of from
the plant.

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 6. Disease of Sapota (Chikoo)
Binomial nane: Manilkara zapotaFamily: Sapotaceae

1. Leaf spot
Phaeopleospora indica , Pestalotiopsis versicolor
Phaeopleospora indica: Earlier circular spots which pinkish then gradually to brownish in
colour and the centre of the spot sometimes whitish grey colour. And number of spots are more
on leaves.
Pestalotiopsis versicolor: spots are circular and brownish and bigger. Later stages can see the
black dots on centre of the spot. These black dots are the asexual fruiting body of the fungus
(Acervulus).
In advanced stages leads to defoliation.
Management: Carbendazim 0.1% and Companion (Combi product) includes carbendazim and
mancozeb 12% and 72% to avoid resistant development in pathogen,
2. Flat limb: Botyodiploidia theobromae
In young stems instead of normal growth flattening takes place. On this flatted stem can see
the small sized leaves with small petioles.
This is a sporadic disease in plant 1 or 2 branch in whole plantation 1 or 2 plants are affected.
Management
Cut the affected stems and burn and cut portion paste with COC 0.3% to avoid dieback
3. Sooty mould: Capnodium versicolor
Symptoms:
 Disease severity increases in increased population of leaf hoppers, aphids and other
insects. Black superficial growth on entire surface of leaves, fruits and twigs. Fungus
is not a parasite. It grows on the excreta and honey secretions of insects.
 Under dry spell such affected leaves curl & shrivel. During flowering time the
appearance of the disease results in reduced fruit set.
 Sooty mass is a superficial growth of the fungus and it multiplies on insect secretions.
Impact of this disease on host is photosynthesis activity and yield decreases.
Primary source of inoculum: Dormant mycelia
Secondary source of inoculum: Air borne conidia: Spread: Insects, Aphids, wind
Epidemiology: Temperature 28 -320 c, 85-90% RH, Warm Weather and susceptible host
Management
 Sprays of wettable sulphur 0.2% along with insecticide Dimethoate 1.5g/lit
 Spray of 1% starch solution makes flakes of the fungus and due to small wind falls of
from the plant.
4. Red rust : Cephaleuros versicolor
The algal disease and it has been observed in India and else where. It is one of the minor disease
of importance. Reduction in photosynthetic activity and defoliation as a result of algal attack
lower vitality of the host plant.
Symptoms:
 The disease is characterized by initial green coloured, circular patches with marginal
serrations.
 The upper surfaces of the spot consist of numerous, unbranched filaments, which
project through cuticle.
 As and when disease advances the organism turns red rusty spots on the leaves and
young twig.
 Spores mature, fall off and leave cream to white velvet texture on the surface of leaf.

42
Etiology: Cephaleuros virescens (Kunze).
 The algae after a period of vegetative growth develop its reproductive structure.
 Certain cells become sporangia. They are of 2 types.
 Those formed directly on the thallus are sessile and thick walled, 40-50micrometer in
diameter with orange pigments.
 They are formed singly on the vegetative filaments. Some are produced above the
surface on special sporangiophores consisting of thick, rigid, septate hairs with a length
of 50micrometer, swollen into a vesicle at the tip. Each vesicle carries 3-6 sporangia on
curved pedicels.
 When the sporangia are riped, the contents are converted in to zoospores and liberated
through an opening in the wall.
 The zoospores are orange in color, ovoid and swim actively by means of cilia.
Epidemiology:
 The disease is more common on close plantation.
 The zoospores cause initial infection.
 High moist condition favours development of fruiting bodies of the algae.
Management: it is controlled by spraying with Bordeaux mixture 1% or Copper Oxychloride
0.3% or lime sulphur0.2%.

43
 7. Diseases ofPapaya

Scientific name: Carica papayaFamily: Caricaceae

1. Stem rot / Foot rot : Pythium aphanidermatum

2. Powdery mildew: Oidium caricae
3. Ring spot: Papaya ring spot virus
4. Leaf curl: Nicotiana virus 10
5. Anthracnose: Colletotrichum gleoesporiodes
6. Black spot of papaya: Asperisporium caricae

1.Stem rot/foot rot:

C.O. : Pythium aphanidermatum (Eds.) Fitz
 : Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn.
 Class : Oomycetes
 Order : Peronosporales
 Family : Pythiaceae
 Distribution: Africa, Hawaii, Sri-Lanka and India.
 Disease appears from June – August
Symptoms:
 Disease may lead to complete failure of crop when it appears in the early stages of
growth.
 Water soaked patches appear on stem at ground level.
 These patches enlarge and girdle the base of stem.
 Diseased tissues turn dark brown or black & red.
 Terminal leaves turn yellow, drop & wilt.
 Fruits shriveled and drop prematurely
 Disintegration of parenchymatous tissues at the base of stem takes place.
 The entire plant topples over the ground.
 The internal tissues dry up and give a honeycomb appearance.
 Rotting may spread above and below on the stem and down to the roots.
 The roots deteriorate and may be destroyed.
Disease cycle:
 The fungi survive in the form of oospore (Pythium) and sclerotia (Rhizoctonia) in the
soil. This may serve as primary source of inoculum. The infected seedlings raised in
infected soil carry the disease to the field. Secondary spread takes place through
sporangia and zoospores.
Favorable condition:
 One week old seedlings are more susceptible than one year old trees. Stem rot caused
by P. aphanidermatum is commonly noticed in 2 to 3 years old trees. The disease
appears during rainy season and severity increase with the intensity of rainfall opt.
temp. 36º C is favorable for disease development.
 Rhizoctonia solani is severe during dry & hot weather - 30o C - 35 o C temperature
Management:
 Seed treatment captan or chlorothalonil (kavach) @ 4 g/kg .of seed

44
  Seedlings should be raised on well-drained nursery area.
 Diseased seedlings should be uprooted & destroyed.
 Drenching the tree basin with B. M.@ 1.0 % or captan @ 0.2 % or copper- oxycholoride
@ 0.25 % or metalaxyl @ 0.1 % or tridemorph @ 0.1 % reduces the incidence of the
disease.

2. Phytophthora Blight of Papaya

 Phytophthora palmivora
Symptoms:
 Young fruits. Water-soaked lesions
 exude milky latex. Fruits may eventually
 mummify and fall.
 Mature fruits. Fruit rot initially appears as small, circular, water-soaked lesions about
(5–10 mm) in diameter. Large lesions, often forming first where the fruit contacts the
stem of the plant are covered with whitish mycelium and masses of Phytophthora
sporangia. Fruits can rot, turn soft, and fall prematurely-
 Stems and foliage. The top portion of the fruit-bearing region of the stem is susceptible
to infection during rainy periods. This can cause stem cankers to appear. The infected
plant may become more susceptible to wind damage. Older portions of stems are
susceptible when wet after extended rainfall, or after injury. As lesions enlarge, infected
areas of the stems may weaken, causing stem damage or breaking. Foliage on affected
stems may collapse
 Roots. Lateral roots of young plants (less than 3 months old) are most susceptible in
poorly drained soils. Roots may become dark and rotten, causing stunting of plant
growth and yellow, collapsed leaves. Severely infected plants may die. Plants with a
heavy load of fruit may topple. Papaya plants with rotten roots are susceptible to
drought stress.
 The minimum temperature for growth of P. palmivora in culture is 52°F (11°C). The
optimum temperature is 81.5–86°F (27.5–30°C), and the maximum growth temperature
is near 95°F (35°C).
 Propagules of this pathogen are dispersed principally by wind-blown rain, splashing
rain, slugs, ants, knives, clippers, rodents, soil, or plant growth media
Management:
 Pick up, remove and destroy fallen fruits, especially those with disease Symptoms.
 Spray pesticides, sometimes as often as weekly to bi weekly,to control Phytophthora
diseases on papaya ,especially before and during rainy periods.
 Select a low-rainfall site for cultivation of papaya.• Intercrop papaya with non-
susceptible host plants.• Do not grow papaya crops successively in the same field.
 Use non-infested soil or media for new transplant holes in fields with Phytophthora root
rot (this is known as the “virgin soil” technique).
 Seedbeds in nurseries should be steamed or fumigated prior to planting.
 Control incipient rots (less than 24 hours old) of harvested fruit by dipping fruits in hot
water held at 120°F (48°C) for 20 minutes.
 Avoid damage or injury to papaya stems during cultivation.
 Control African snails; they can vector the pathogen.
 Spray COC or Metalaxyl for curative
3. Powdery Mildew (Odium caricae)
 The development of powdery mildew in papaya is promoted by high humidity (80-
85%) and a

45
  temperature range of 24-26°C. The disease appears as on the foliage and pods. Infection
is first
 apparent on the leaves as small slightly darkened areas, which later become white
powdery spots.
 These spots enlarge and cover the entire leaf area. Severely infected leaves may become
chlorotic and distorted before falling. Affected fruits are small in size and malformed.
Control :
 As soon as the disease Symptoms are observed dusting Sulphur (30 g/10 litres of water)
or spraying Calixin 75 EC (5 ml/10 litres of water) at 15 days interval helps to control
the disease.
4. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) :
 The disease prominently appears on green immature fruits. The disease Symptoms are
in the form of brown to black depressed spots on the fruits.
 The initial Symptoms are water-soaked, sunken spots on the fruit. The centres of these
spots later turn black and then pink when the fungus produces spores. The flesh beneath
the spots becomes soft and watery, which spreads to the entire fruit. Small, irregular-
shaped water-soaked spots on leaves may also be seen. Brown
 On the fruits, the Symptoms appear only upon ripening and may not be apparent at the
time of harvest. Brown sunken spots develop on the fruit surface, which later on enlarge
to form water soaked lesions. The flesh beneath the affected portion becomes soft and
begins to rot
Control :
 The affected fruits should be remove and destroyed. The fruits should be harvested as
soon as they mature. Spaying with Copper Oxychloride (3 g/litre of water) or
Carbendazim (1 g/litre of water) or Thiophanate Methyl (1 g/litre of water) at 15 days
interval effectively controls the disease. Fruits for exports should be subjected to hot
water treatment or a fungicidal wax treatment.
5. Mosaic
 Co : Papaya Mosaic Virus (PaPMV)
 Carica Virus – 1
Distribution:
 East Africa, Rhodesia, West Indies, Cuba, Hawaii, Brazil, Bolivia, U.S. A., Peru,
Venezuela & India
 India:
 Andhra Pradesh., Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh., Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar
Pradesh, West Bengal and Gujarat.
 First Report: Mumbai & Pune 1947.
 Fruit yield loss: In severe cases 90 % yield loss.
Symptoms:
 Disease may appear at any stage of crop growth but most serious on young plants.
 Typical mosaic Symptoms showing chlorosis with dark green blisters on leaves.
 Top young leaves of diseased plant are much reduced in size and show blister like
patches of dark green tissue, alternating with yellowish green lamina and puckering.
 The leaf petiole is reduced in length and top leaves assume a upright position.
 On diseased fruits circular water soaked lesions with central solid spot appears.
 Fruits are deformed elongated and reduced in size and show mosaic patches.
 No reduction in the flow of latex.
Virus:
 Virus particles are filamentous 530 nm long. Thermal inactivation point 50-53º C,
dilution end point 10-3 to 10-4.

46
Mode of spread and survival:
 Not transmitted through seed of infected fruits. The virus is transmitted by sap, grafting
and several aphids – Aphis gossypii &Aphis medicaginis.
Management:
 Use healthy seedlings for planting.
 Rouging of infected plant & destroying them.
 Spraying of systemic insecticide for checking spread of vectors, monocrotophos @ 0.05
% or methyl-o- demeton @ 0.02 %
6. Leaf curl
 c.o. Tobacco leaf curl virus (TLCV)
 Prevalent in several parts of India. First recorded in 1939 in T.Nadu by Thomas
 Distribution:- Bihar, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerla and Andhra Pradesh
 Symptoms:
 The disease is characterized by severe curling, crinkling and distortation of the leaves
accompanied by vein clearing and reduction in leaf lamina.
 The leaf margins are rolled downward and inward in the form of inverted cap
 Veins thickened and turn dark green.
 Leaves become leathery and brittle and petioles are twisted
 Affected plants bear only a few flowers and fruits
 The plant become stunted and leaves get defoliated
Mode of spread:
 The disease is transmitted through white fly Bemisia tabaci and not sap transmissible
 Host:
 Tobacco, tomato, sun hemp, goose berry, chilli, hollyhock, zinnia and several other
weeds.
Management:
 Infected plants should be destroyed from the nursery
 In orchard , the infected plants roughed and destroyed
 Spray trizophos / confidor 0.05% or dimethoate 0.03% for controlling vectors
Ring spot
 c.o. Papya Ring Spot Virus (PRSV)
 The disease was first reported in 1949
Distribution:- China, France, India, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Taiwan and USA.
Symptoms:
 Disease is characterised by vein clearing and puckering
 The margins and distal parts of young leaves roll downwards and inwards The plant get
stunted. On the stem of young plants, mosaic or mottle Symptoms with dark green spot
and oily or water soaked streaks. Fruits are smaller, showing typical circular and
concentric rings.
 Diseased fruits contain 40% lower sugar.
 Latex quality of diseased plants is poor
 The virus particles are rod shaped, length 760-800 nm with 12 nm width.
Control:
 Early detection of infected plants and prompt removal can check the spread of the
disease. Aphids can be controlled by application of Carbofuran (1 kg a.i./ha) in the
nursery bed at the time of sowing seeds followed by 2-3 foliar sprays of Phosphamidon
(0.05%) at an interval of 10 days starting from 15-20 days after sowing.
 Spraying of neem oil 0.1%

47
 8. Disease of Jack Fruit
Scintific Name :Artocarpus heterophyllus Fanily: Moraceae
Major Diseases
 1. Die back; (Botryodiplodia theobromae)
 2. Fruit rots
 a. Rhizopus artocarpus
 b. Rhizopus nigriocans
 C. Phytopthora palmivora
Minor Diseases
 a. Leaf spot- Phyllosticta artocarina
 b. Pink disease- Botryobasidium salmonicolor & Corticium Salmonicolor

1. Die back (Botryodiplodia theobromae)

Symptoms:
 The most of the becomes evident by discoloration & darkening of the bark some
distance from the tip.
 The dark area advances & young green twigs start withering first at the base & then
extending out words along the veins of leaf edges.
 The affected leaves turn brown & their margins roll upwards at this stage.
 The twig or branches dies shrivels & falls there may be exudation of gum from affected
branches such branches are often affected by shoot borers infected twigs show internal
discoloration.
 At this stage, the twigs or branches die, shrivel and fall, and there may be an exudation
of gum from affected branches. Such branches have also been found to be affected by
shoot borers and shot hole borers. when split open.
 In early stages, epidermal and sub-epidermal cells of twigs are often slightly shrivelled
On such twigs, erumpent aceruvuli of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides are also
observed.
Causal organism: Botryodiplodia theobromae
Etiology:
 Pycnidia are asexual fruiting body, up to 5mm in diameter. Conidia are asexual spores,
thin walled at first and become thick walled, septate mycelia is present.
 Primary source of inoculum: Dormant mycelia
 Secondary source of inoculum: Soil and airborne conidia.
Epidemology:
 Temperature at 250 -300. low relative humidity (80- 85%), susceptible host.
Management:
 Pruning of infected twigs followed by spraying of carbendazim 0.1% or thiophonate
methyl 0.2 % or chlorothaloni 0.2% is recommended.
 Controlling shoot borer, & shot hole borers by suitable insecticides is also important in
reducing die back disease
2. Fruit rots
a. Rhizopus artocarpi
Symptoms:
 The young fruits & inference are badly attacked by the fungus & only a small
percentage of the fruit reach maturity female inflorescence & matured fruits are not
usually attacked.
 The disease is a soft rot a large no. of the affected fruits fall off early.

48
  In the first stage of attack the fungus appears as a grayish growth with abundant mycelia
which gradually becomes dense forming a black growth.
 The fungus gradually advances until the whole fruit or the entire inflorescence rots &
falls off.
 Causal organism:Three species of plant-pathogenic fungi of the genus Rhizopus can
cause this disease in the tropics: Rhizopus oryzae, Rhizopus artocarpus, and Rhizopus
stolonifer. No jackfruit varieties are reported to have significant resistance to the disease
Epidemiology:
 Warm, humid, rainy conditions favor the development of rhizopus rot. Wind, rain, and
insects dislodge and spread the tiny fungal spores.
 When deposited on moist fruit surfaces, the spores germinate and infective mycelia
 grow into the tissues.
 The infection produces a layer of black spores on the fruit surface to start secondary
cycles of infection and disease. Although wounds can predispose the fruit to infection,
unwounded flowers and
 Young fruit are also susceptible.
 Rhizopus can survive on decaying plant litter or in the soil to initiate new infections
Management
 Prune the tree to encourage good ventilation and to reduce relative humidity in the
canopy.
 Remove and destroy diseased fruit from trees and the ground. Clean up decaying
organic debris within and around the tree.
 Ensure that water does not pond around the tree’s root zone. Control weeds around
young trees.
 Intercrop jackfruit with trees that are not susceptible to infection by Rhizopus. Keep
ripe fruit from contact with the soil or decayingorganic material.
 Avoid wounding the fruit. Wash fruit after harvest in clean water and dry thoroughly
before packing or transporting.
 Do not pack fruit with Symptoms, destroy them.
 Avoid storing fruit after harvest in hot, poorly ventilated containers.
 Spraying of the young fruits with capton 0.2% or Bordeaux mixture 1.0% or copper
oxy chloride .025%.
 An interval of three weeks during the months of Jan – Feb & March is effective in
controlling the disease.
3. Phytophthora rot: Phytopthora palmivora
Symptoms:
 Infection takes place through whole or wounded skin in rough skinned verities &
through wounds in smooth skinned verities.
 Water socked lesions occur 48-78 hours after inoculation. They enlarge to form light
brown spots with sporulating hyphae near the edge affected fruits develop soft rot.
 The damage caused to the bark of crown roots and or bark of the trunk is called
Phytophthora gummosis collar rot or foot rot.
Causal Organism: Phytopthora palmivora
Epidemiology
 Sporangial production rain water was the best and P. palmivora thrives best at 25-28°C.
A soil pH of 5.4-7.5 favours the disease
Management: Spraying with Benomyl 1g/lt completely control the rotting
MINOR DISEASE
4. Leaf spot- (Phyllosticta artocarina)
Symptoms:

49
  It produces white spots with broad dark margins on leaves. It can be controlled by
spraying Bordeaux mixture 1.0%. Pestalotiopsis clastica also causes leaf spots
colletotrichom gloeosporioides. It is characterized by dark brick red spots on both the
leaf surfaces in mature spots the centres become grayish with erupted dark acervulus,
The margins of the spots turn dark brown.
Management:
 The disease is effectively controlled by spraying Carbendazim 0.1% or Thiophanate
methyl 0.2% or Difolatan 0.2%.
5. Pink disease- (Botryobasidium salmonicolaor & Corticium Salmonicolor)
Symptoms
 It is widespread in tropical and subtropical areas.
 The disease appears as a pinkish powdery coating on the stem.
 Pink colour represents profuse conidial production of fungus.
 Young woody branches of the affected tree lose their leaves & show die back pink
encrustation is seen on the lower shaded side, and show die-back
Management:
 The affected branches should be pruned and the cut end should be pasted with Bordeaux
paste or Copper Oxychloride

50
 9. Diseases of Pineapple
Scintific Name: Ananas comosusFamily: Moraceae

MAJOR DISEASES
1. Heart rot: Phytopthora cinnamomi and Phytopthora parasitica.
2. Base rot: Ceratocystis paradoxa
3. Wilt: pine apple wilt virus
4. Pink disease: -Pantoea citrea

MINOR DISEASES:
1. Fruit let core rot: Penicillium spp.
2. Bacterial fruit rot: Pantoea ananas pv. ananas.
MAJOR DISEASES
1. Heart rot
Causal organism: Phytopthora cinnamomi and
Phytopthora parasitica.
Symptoms
 In the field, heart rot of young plants is seen as a change in the colour of leaves from
normal green to yellowish green and browning of leaf tips.
 The based of the leaves shown yellowish white rotten area bordered by a distinct and
characteristic brown margin.
 The chlorophyll region commences.
 The affected area has a fetid odor due to secondary bacterial invasion.
 The rot extends into the stem of the plant producing a soft cheesed-like rotting
condition.
 The roots of plants are largely destroyed with the result that the plants are stunted and
fruit formation is delayed or dose not occurs at all.
Etiology:
 Aseptate mycelia, inter & intra cellular Haustoria.
 Sexual spores – Oospores (oogonium).
 asexual spores – Zoospores and sporangium
Primary source of inoculum – oospores & Chlamydospores present in debris.
Secondary source of inoculum – air & splash borne zoospores
Mode of spread:
 The fungus inhabit sand survive in the soil in the form of oospores.
 The spores spread through runoff water, rain splash.
Epidemiology:
 Heart rot under warmer and somewhat drier conditions is frequently associated with
alkaline soils and poor drainage.
 It is serious in cool, wet soil.
 Temperatute:250c, heavy rain soon after planting leads to heavy disease incidence.
 Plants of one or two year old age are more susceptible.
Management:
 Deep planting should be avoided.
 Soil should not be allowed to enter the hearts during planting.
 Diseased plants should be removed and burnt
 Bordeaux mixture(1%) spray reduces the disease
2. Base rot

51
 Causal organism: Ceratocystis paradoxa
Symptoms:
 It is typically black rot of the butt of the plant.
 The softer tissues are destroyed and only stringy fibers remine decay of the butt is
followed by wilting of the foliage and the diseased plant break off at low level
 The leaves show grey spots with dark margin the spots turn olive brown or white. With
advance of the diseases tissues dry and leaves become destroyed.
 Finally skin flesh and core disintegrated.
 The fruit decay is accompanied by a sweetish odor, during such times the fungus is
found on rotting tops and sucker left lying in heaps in damp sutiation.
Mode of spread:
 It a parasite.
 The fungus survives in the form of black spores in the soil.
 Infection takes place during picking and packing by spores distributed by wind or rain
or affect parts.
Epidemiology:
 The disease is prevalent in warmer months following wet weather.
 The disease development is favored by warm weather.
 Wet soil or storage condition, serious losses occur when the suckers have been kept in
a damp place or when the planting has been followed by prolonged wet weather.
Management:
 The planting material should be cured for at last two are three days in the sun before
planting or packing for transport
 Dipping of the plant captofoln13.5kg/ha.
 Dipping of fruits after harvest for three minutes in benomyl 0.2% or thiabendazole
0.1%.
3. WILT
Causal organism: pine apple wilt virus
Symptoms:
 Leaves develop characteristic bronzing starting from third or fourth whorl on words.
 The leaves show bright pink colour browning of the tips with downwards curling of the
margin.
 The pink colour becomes more pronounced and leaves from the top dry downwards
Finally the tips dry up completely.
 The bright pink colour becomes dull and the root system collapses.
Mode of spread and survival:
 The disease is transmitted through mealybugs, Dysmicocus brevipes.
Management:
 Higher levels of nitrogen decreased the disease incidence.
 Wilt incidence has lesser in plots having a plant population.
 Diseased sucker can be recovered within 30-50 days by hot water or heat treatment at
50oc for 3 hours.
4. Pink disease: - Pantoea citrea
History
 Pink disease was originally described in 1915 in Hawaii.
 The pathogen responsible for causing pink disease remained obscure and the nature of
the pink color formation of the pineapple fruit tissue was not understood.
 A myriad of bacteria associated with the pineapple plant, many of which originated
from the surrounding soil, made identifying the primary cause of the disease extremely
difficult.

52
 The biochemical basis of the disease was thought to be complex and difficult to
elucidate, and was therefore left uncharacterized.
 Attempts at identifying the pathogen led to implicating several distinct bacteria as the
causal agents of pink disease. Gluconobacter oxydans, Acetobacter aceti, and Erwinia
herbicola were the prominent suspected species.
Symptoms
 Pink disease symptoms are difficult to observe in the field since outward symptoms are
not apparent.
 Infections of the foliage are not usually found. Under severe invasion of the fruit by P.
citrea, a translucent appearance of the sub-dermal fruit tissue occasionally can be
observed.
 The most common appearance of symptoms occurs when infected fruit preparations are
heated as a result of the canning process.
 Heating causes the formation of red to rusty brown coloration of the usually golden
yellow tissue.
The Pathogen
 Pantoea citrea is a Gram-negative, facultative anaerobic, non-spore forming,
bacilliform bacterium with physiological and biochemical as well as 16S rDNA features
corresponding to those of the Enterobacteriaceae.
 On nutrient agar and trypticase soya agar, the colonies are entire, smooth, glistening,
translucent, but not mucoid. The colonies become taupe in color. Pantoea citrea grows
readily in pineapple juice as well as in fresh pineapple fruit tissue.
 Unlike other Pantoea species, P. citrea is unable to utilize citrate or tartrate. Besides
the genetic makeup that causes the pink disease reaction in the pineapple fruit, the
bacterium elicits the hypersensitive response in tobacco.
 Many strains harbor pUCD5000, a small plasmid containing genes that help promote
the development of pink coloration.
 The pathogen is amenable to genetic manipulation and is compatible with many
plasmid vectors used as molecular biological tools.
 The sequence of the entire genome is forthcoming and should shed a complete picture
on the organization of operons and genes involved in causing the pink disease in
pineapple.
Management:
 Although there are no experimental evidence attributing insects directly with the
transmission of P. citrea to the fruit, the high correlation of higher pink disease
incidence with lowered application of insecticides tend to suggest that this assumption
is correct.
 Plant breeding for resistance to pink disease has shown some promise.
 Crosses between the wild-type resistant varieties with the horticulturally acceptable
varieties such as Smooth Cayenne cultivars are currently being screened to develop
successful resistance.
 Plant genetic engineering strategies are also being considered.
 Genes used to lower the substrate that leads to 2,5-diketogluconate formation and genes
used to inhibit the growth of P. citrea in fruit tissue are some examples that can be
incorporated in the transgenic pineapple.
 Biological control methods also have been assessed. Several bacterial species that are
antagonistic to P. citrea have been tested in the laboratory and in the field.
 The most promising biocontrol isolates, such as Bacillus gordonae, further reduced
disease incidence in combination with insecticides.

53
 From a practical view point, the requirement of relatively large fermentation facilities
to produce and process large quantities of bacteria is a key limiting factor.
 Production, supply, maintenance, and trained labor are needed to continually produce
the biocontrol agent.
 This end of the biocontrol program is not cost effective when compared with
insecticides. Outside suppliers of the biocontrol agent would help alleviate some of the
production cost.
 However, for one pineapple producing company alone, more than 60 square miles
(15,540 hectares) of pineapple are propagated year round. Hence, the application of a
biocontrol agent (e.g., at the rate of 1 kg of biocontrol inoculum [wet packed weight]
per hectare requires 50 liters of culture medium) to such a vast area is perceived as
economically unfeasible.

54
 10. Diseases of Pomegranate

Scientificname: Punica granatum Family: Lythraceae

IMPORTANT DISEASES OF POMEGRANATE:

Cercospora leaf spot - Cercospora punicae
Bacterial blight - Xanthomas axonopodis pv. punicae
Leaf spots - Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
- Sphaceloma punicae
- Fusarium fusaroidies
- Phomopsis aucubicola
- Drechslera rostara
Minor diseases
1. Canker - Ceuthospora phyllosticta
2. Leaf and fruit spot - Coelophoma empetri
3. Flower and fruit spot - Phytophthora nicotianae
4. Fruit Spots - Beltaraniella humicolla
- Pestalotiopsis versicolor
5. Fruit rots
a. Cladosporium fruit rot - Cladosporium oxysporum
b. Aspergillus fruit rots - Aspergillus spp.
c. Mild soft rot - Penicillium chysogenum
d. Soft rots - Rhizopus arrhizus & R. stolonifier
e. Dry rot - Syncephalastrum racemsum
f. Fusarium rot - Fusarium equiseti
g. Phomopsis rot - Phomopsis sp.
6. Root knot nematode - Meloidogyne incognata
1) Cercospora leaf spot - (Cercospora punicae)
Symptoms:-
 Light brown zonate spots appear on the leaves and fruits.
 Black and elliptic spots appear on the twigs.
 The affected areas in the twigs become flattened and depressed with raised edges.
 Such infected twigs dry up. In severe cases the whole plant dies.
Causal organism:-
This disease coused by fungus Cercospora punicae (P.Henn). Conidiophores are olivaceous
brown, short fasciculate, sparingly septate. Conidia are hyaline to pale olivaceous cylindrical,
sub fisoid to sub clavate, septate .
Mode of survival and Spread:
The pathogen survives in affected plant parts as dormant mycelia and spreads through
airborne conidia produced in acervullus.
Epidemiology:
The disease is severe during August to November. When there is high humidity and the
temperature between 20 and 27o C
Management:
Cultural practice:
 Clean cultivation, i.e. sanitation, includes removal of weeds.
 On fallen leaves or affected plant parts, spray nitrogen solution or bleaching powder to
enhance degradation.

55
  Prune all affected branches then burn affected branches and pruned material and pruned
area should be smeared with Bordeaux paste or coc paste.

Chemical:
 Spray thiophanate methyl 0.1% or mancozeb 0.2% or cardendazim 0.1%.
2. Bacterial blight: (Xanthomas axonopodis pv. punicae)
Symptoms:
 Small irregular, water soaked spots appear on the leaves.
 Spots vary from two to five mm in dia with necrotic centre of pin-head size.
 Spots are translucent, later turn light brown to dark brown and are surrounded by
prominent water-soaked margins. Spots coalesce to form large patches.
 Severely infected leaves fall off.
 The bacterium attacks stems, branches and fruits also.
 On the stem, the disease starts as brown to black spots around the nodes it leads to
girdling and cracking of nodes. Finally the branches break down.
 Brown to black spots on fruits is raised and oily in appearance.
Causal organism:
 Xanthomonas axonopodis pv.punicae [= Xanthomonas campestris pv.punicae].
 It is Gram-negative rod, motile with single polar flagellum. It is non acid fast and
aerobic.
Mode of spread and survival:
 The bacterium survives on the tree.
 The pathogen survives for 120 days on he fallen leaves during the season.
 The primary infection is through infected cuttings.
 The disease spreads through wind splashed rains.
Epidemiology:
High temperature and low humidity favor the disease. Temperature of 30 to 34o C,
relative humidity of 80 to 85% is favorable for multiplication of pathogen.
Management:
 Clean cultivation and strict sanitation in the orchard help to reduce the disease
incidence.
 Collect and burn the fallen leaves
 Spraying of 1 per cent urea solution to fallen leaves enhances the degradation
 Bleaching on to the fallen leaves reduces the inoculum
 Spraying the Bordeaux mixture 1.0% controls the disease.
 Spray 0.05% streptocycline to control the disease
 Also can use copper oxy chloride spray at 0.3% concentration.
 Pruning at correct stage would reduce the disease(Bahar pruning)
 Ganesh as moderately resistant variety for bacterial blight disease
3. Leaf spots: ( Colletotrichum gloeosporioides)
Symptoms:
 The disease appears as small, regular to regular to irregular dull violet or black spots on
the leaves.
 These spots are surrounded by yellow margins.
 The infected leaves turn yellow and drop off.
Mode of survival and Spread:
 The pathogen survives in affected plant parts as dormant mycelia
 Spreads through airborne conidia produced in acervullus.
Mode of entry through stomata
Epidemiology:

56
  The disease is severe during August to November.
 When there is high humidity and the temperature between 20 and 27o C

Management:
 Clean cultivation.
 On fallen leaves or affected plant parts, spray nitrogen solution or bleaching powder to
enhance degradation.
 Prune all affected branches then burn affected branches and pruned material and pruned
area should be smeared with Bordeaux paste or coc paste.
 Spray thiophanate methyl 0.1% or mancozeb 0.25% or cardendazim 0.1%
4. Sphaceloma punicae (Bitancourt and Jenkins)
Symptom:
 The disease attacks leaves, shoots, calyx and fruits.
 Rusty spots appear on leaves. Infected leaves turn yellow and die, Rusty colored
pustules appear on fruits.
 Drizzling rains and abundant dew favor disease development and spread.
Mode of survival and Spread:
 The pathogen survives in affected plant parts and spreads through airborne conidia
Epidemiology:
 The disease is severe during August to November. When there is high humidity and the
temperature between 20 and 270 C
Management:
 Clean cultivation.
 On fallen leaves or affected plant parts, spray nitrogen solution or bleaching powder to
enhance degradation.
 Prune all affected branches then burn affected branches and pruned material and pruned
area should be smeared with Bordeaux paste or coc paste.
 Spray thiophonate methyl 0.1% or mancozeb 0.2% or carbendazim 0.1%.
5. Fusarium wilt: Fusarium fusarioides (Farg &Cif)
Symptom:
 The disease appears as minute specks towards the leaf margin.
 The spots are brown, circular to irregular in shape. Later the spots coalesce and form
big dark brown necrotic blotch.
 Mode of survival and Spread:
 The pathogen survives in affected plant parts and spreads through airborne conidia
Epidemiology:
The disease is severe during August to November. When there is high humidity and the
temperature between 20 and 27o C
Management:
 Clean cultivation, i.e. sanitation, includes removal of weeds. On fallen leaves or
affected plant parts, spray nitrogen solution or bleaching powder to enhance
degradation.
 Prune all affected branches then burn affected branches and pruned material and pruned
area should be smeared with Bordeaux paste or coc paste.
 Spray thiophonate methyl 0.1% or mancozeb 0.2% or cardendazim 0.1%.
Minor diseases
6. Canker ( Ceuthospora phyllosticta)
Symptom:
 Elliptic black spots are formed on the twigs.
 Affected areas become flattened and depressed wit raised edge.

57
 Later the bark dries and cracks and the wood below show abnormal dark brown black
discoloration.
 Twigs beyond the cankerous spots dry off and in severe cases the affected tree dies.
Mode of spread and survival:-
Pathogen survives on can survive on the cankerous growth of the leaves, stem or fruit. At
the time of warm rainy season bacteria ooze out from cankers, and then spread through
splash borne and air borne. itenter through stomata and wounds on the plants.
Life cycle:
The bacterial spores present in the cankers ooze out when the conditions are congenial to
them. then become splash borne or air borne and goes on moving, when they come in
contact with the host plant surface they enter into the host through stomata or through
wounds, multiplies inside the plant, causes infection, shows symptoms like cankerous
growth on the surface and continues its life cycle.
7. Leaf and fruit spot: Coelophoma empetri (Rostrup)
Symptom:
 On leaves the spots are circular, reddish, and brown to dark brown.
 They coalesce to form bigger sized lesions which are negotic and dark brown.
 Later infected leaves turn pale yellow and drop brown.
 On fruits numerous minute circular tan brown spots which turn brown to black later.
 They coalesce to form irregular depressed and hard necrotic lesions.
 Lesions are restricted to epidermis baring black spherical pycnidia.
8. Flower and fruit spot: Phytophthora nicotianae
Symptom:
 Spots on flower leads to premature shedding.
 Lesions are also found on fruits.
 Twigs in the trees are also infected.
Mode of survival and Spread:
Oospores are spherical. Sporangia are broadly turbinate with spherical basal portions and
apical part prolonged into a break, papillate
Life cycle:-
 Oospores are thick walled, sexual diploids spores, present in the affected debris
 When conditions are congenial they germinates as a sporangium and releases zoospores
 Zoospores flight then encystment (Short period resting phase) takes place where and
loose their flagellum.
 Soon after landing on to the host surface, encysted zoospore germinate to produce germ
tube and enters through stomata.
 The mycelia multiplies by producing intracellular haustoria and absorbing nutrients and
causes infection by producing sporangium and life cycle continues.
 If conditions are adverse it undergo sexual reproduction in that gematangial contact
type of reproduction between oogonium and Antheridium take place.
 Plasmogamy, Karyogamy and oospores formation and the life cycle continues.
Management:
 Clean cultivation.
 On fallen leaves or affected plant parts, spray nitrogen solution or bleaching powder to
enhance degradation.
 Prune all affected branches then burn affected branches and pruned material and pruned
area should be smeared with Bordeaux paste or COC paste.
 Spray thiophonate methyl 0.1% or mancozeb 0.2% or cardendazim 0.1%

58
4. Fruit Spots
a. Beltaraniella humicola:
Symptoms:
 Black circular spots gradually enlarge and coalesce to form big spots leading to
necrosis.
 The margin of spots varies from reddish to brown in color.
 Infection is restricted to the rind of fruit and undesirable of the pulp.
Mode of survival and Spread:
The pathogen survives in affected plant parts as dormant mycelia and spreads through
airborne conidia
Epidemiology:
The disease is severe during August to November. When there is high humidity and the
temperature between 20 and 27o C
Management:
 Clean cultivation.
 On fallen leaves or affected plant parts, spray nitrogen solution or bleaching powder to
enhance degradation.
 Prune all affected branches then burn affected branches and pruned material and pruned
area should be smeared with Bordeaux paste or coc paste.
 Spray thiophanate methyl 0.1% or mancozeb 0.25% or carbendazim 0.1%.

b. Pestalotiopsis versicolor (Speg.):

Symptoms:
 The disease manifests its symptom as minute, brown to rust colored spots on the fruits.
 The spots coalesce with the disease advance and causes necrotic patches.
 The central portion of the lesion is depressed inward with raised margin and severe
infection tear open the rind.
 In several cases infection penetrates deep into the fruits and causes discoloration of
seeds.
 Mode of survival and Spread:
 The pathogen survives in affected plant parts as dormant mycelia and spreads through
airborne conidia
Epidemiology:
 The disease is severe during August to November. When there is high humidity and the
temperature between 20 and 27o C
Management:
 Clean cultivation.
 On fallen leaves or affected plant parts, spray nitrogen solution or bleaching powder to
enhance degradation.
 Prune all affected branches then burn affected branches and pruned material and pruned
area should be smeared with Bordeaux paste or coc paste.
 Spray thiophanate methyl 0.1% or mancozeb 0.25% or carbendazim 0.1%.
Fruit rots:
Cladosporium fruit rot: Cladosporium oxysporum
The diseased fruits develop orange-red to dull-brown circular spots and become olive-
brown. In advanced stage, the entire fruit rots. Hyphae of the fungus are separate. Light

59
 olive-green, 2.5 to 30 μm in width. Conidiophores are light brown and simple. Conidia
are light brown to olive green, 1-celled, fusoid and 1 to 20 x 3.5 to 4.5 μm.

Aspergillus fruit rots: Aspergillus flavus (Link)

It causes brownish discoloration, which gradually becomes blackish and slimy. Later it gets
slightly depressed and is covered by green conidial heads of the fungus. The diseases cause
soft rot fruits and emits fermented odour.
Mild soft rot: Penicillium chrysogenum (Thom)
Soft, Watery spots of two to four cm dia appear on the fruits. They increase in size and coalesce
together. The spots are found covered with white mycelium and bluish green spores.
Soft rots: Rhizopus arrhizus & R. stolonifer (Fisher)
Small spots appear on fruits. They increase in size and coalesce. Infection is restricted to rind.
But the entire internal content decays into a pulpy mass. Under dry conditions cracking
originated from the point of infection. Packing straw should be treated with sulphur dioxide.
Treatment of fruits with linseed oil and mustard oil or castor oil protects them from rot.
Dry rot: Syncephalastrum racemosum (Cohn)
Small isolated dark patches are formed on the surface of the fruits the patches are dry and
covered with the mycelium and spores of the fungus. Inner pulp rots.
Fusarium rot: Fusarium equisetti (Corda)
Circular and depressed lesions appear on the fruits. Lesions are surrounded by concentric
wrinkles. The lesions increase in size and cover almost the entire fruit.
Phomopsis rot: Phomopsis sp.
The disease starts from calyx end and gradually spreads over the entire fruit. Pycnidia appear
on affected areas. One spray with copper oxychloride checks the spread. Copper oxychloride
0.5 spray three times at 10 days interval controls the disease.
Management of fruit rots:
Harvest the produce during cool hours.
 During grading Wounded affected, irregular sized fruits or bunches discord.
 Use aerated boxes and smooth bedding filling material
 Preserve the produce before transit in completely controlled atmosphere condition
 Remove all affected part around grading packing areas
 Sterilize/decontaminate the storage bins with 0.5% formaldehyde or 70% ethyl alcohol.
 Chemical treatment with Benomyl 1g/lit, dip the fruits.
 Wax coating.
 Dip the fruits in wax solution.
 Dip the fruits in oils: Neem, Castor oil
 Dip the fruit in trichoderma solution.

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 11.Disease of Ber- Ziziphus mauritiana

Scientific name: Ziziphus zuzubeFamily: Rhamnaceae

DISEASE
1. Powdery mildew - Oidium erysiphoides f.sp. zizyphi
2. Alternaria Leaf spot - Alternaria chartarum Isariopsis
3. Rust - Phakopsora zizyphi-vulgaris
4. Soft rot - Phomopsis natsume
Powdery mildew - Oidium erysiphoides f.sp. zizyphi
GENUS-Oidium
SUB – DIVISION-Ascomycotina
CLASS-Plectomycetes
ORDER-Erysiphales
FAMILY-Erysiphaceae
Symptoms:
 The developing young leaves show a white powdery mass causing them to shrink and
defoliate.
 Small, white powdery growth appear on the young fruits which later enlarge and
coalesce and final turn brown to dark brown.
 In severe cases, the whole fruit surface gets covered with the powdery mass.
 Affected young fruits drop off prematurely or become corky, cracked, misshapen and
underdeveloped.
Matured fruits turn rusty. Sometimes the whole crop is rendered unmarketable
Etiology:
Conidiophores are white upright. Conidia are cylindrical, single celled, hyaline, barrel shaped
and 22.5to 37.8 × 16.8 to 21.0µm.
Perpetuation: spread through wind born conidia
Epidemiology:
Warm high humid conditions with relative humidity more than 90% favors diseases
development.
Management:
 Spraying of dinocap 0.05 per cent or wettable sulphur 0.25 per cent should be done
during first and third weeks of November or when the fruit attains pea size.
Triton-AE or Teepol or Sandovit may be added for adhesion.
Alternaria Leaf spot - Alternaria chartarum Isariopsis
GENUS: Alternaria
SUB – DIVISION: Deuteromycotina
CLASS -Hyphomycetes
ORDER-Moniliales
FAMILY - Dematiaceae
Symptoms:
 The disease is characterised by the formation of small irregular' brown spot on the
upper surface of the leaves.
 On the lower surface dark brown to black spots are formed.
 The spots coalesce to form big patches. The diseased leaves later drop.
Plant debris serve as potential source of primary infection.
Perpetuation:

61
Plant debris serve as potential source of primary infection. Secondary spread is through the
wind born conidia
Epidemiology:
The disease development is favored at 20 to 30 0C with an optimum of 250C. High humidity
and frequent rainfall seem to be more important than temperature for disease development
Management:
 Spray 0.2per cent captofol or zineb 0.2 per cent.
 Resistance variety namely Bahadurgarhia, Goal Gurgaon, and Poular Gola and ZG3
may be grown.
Rust - Phakopsora zizyphi-vulgaris
GENUS-Phakopsora
SUB - DIVISION-Basidiomycotina
CLASS-Teliomycetes
ORDER-Uredinales
FAMILY-Melanmpsoraceae
Symptom
 On the lower surface of the leaves small, irregular, reddish brown uredopustules
appear. Later they cover the whole area of the leaves.
 The infected leaves dry and defoliate.
 Etiology:
 Natural occurrence of teleutospores and formation of basidia and basidiospores after
germinations of teletuospores have been recorded and this cause infection to plants
Management
 It is an autoecious rust. Spraying with Mancozeb 0.2 per cent or Zineb 0.2 per cent or
Wettable sulphur 0.2 per cent
Soft rot:Phomopsis natsume
The disease appears as a light russet vinaceous coloured, irregular spot on the fruits.
It increases in size and make the whole fruit into pulpy, brown to black in colour with
soft and loose outer skin
The disease can be-controlled by spraying with Carbendazim 0.05 per cent.

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 12. Disease of Apple

S. N. :Malus pumilaFamily: Rosaceae

Diseases of Apple
 Apple scab: Venturia inaequalis
 Powdery mildew: Podosphaera leuchotricha
 Cedar rust : Gymnosporangium juniperi verginiane
 Fire blight: Erwinia amylovora
 Crown gall: Agrobacterium tumefaciens
 Black Rot :Botryosphaeria obtuse
 Sooty blotch: Leptodontium elatius
 Flyspeck :Zygophiala jamaicensis
 Phytopthora Crown Rot, Collar Rot, and Root: Phytopthora spp.
Apple Scab
Disease causing organism: Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) Wint
Symptoms:
 Infections are most obvious on the leaves and fruit.
 When the infection first occurs on leaves, it is visible as a lighter shade of green when
compared to the rest of the leaf surface.
 The inner portion of the lesion may become gray - brown as the fungus and the leaf
tissue in that area die.
 Under severe conditions, the whole leaf can take on a velvet appearance, a phenomenon
known as scab this condition can lead to premature defoliation.
 Foliar lesions which are formed in the autumn (late season scab) may appear on either
surface of the leaf as a small, round, tan or black spot that closely resembles other fungal
lesions which can affect apple leaves.
 Early infection of the fruit often results in large lesions which deform the fruit, and may
cause it to drop off.
Disease cycle:
 The fungus primarily over winters on infected leaves on the orchard floor.
 Ascospores are released in the spring at about bud break, and disseminated by wind
during rainy periods.
 Moisture required in order for the spores to germinate.
 The time it takes for infection to occur is a function of the number of hours of leaf
wetness and the temperature several secondary cycles of infection, arising from spores
produced in primary lesions, may occur during the growing season.
 During the primary stage of disease development, when ascospores are released from
leaves on the orchard floor, begin the degree day model in order to determine ascospore
maturity.
 Orchards should be scouted on a weekly basis during the primary stage.
 Approximately seventeen days after predicted depletion of ascospores a final
monitoring should be conducted for primary scab lesions.
 Management of scab for the remainder of the season should be based on the incidence
of primary scab lesions.
 Late season determination of inoculum levels in the orchard may be done after harvest.
Dissemination:
 Ascospores are disseminated by wind during rainy periods in the spring, and conidia
are disseminated by wind and rain once infection is established on the tree

63
  Primary source of inoculum: affected fallen leaves
 Secondary source of inoculum: airborne conidia

Cultural practices:
 When establishing a new orchard, plant cultivars which are resistant to the disease.
 Applications of 5% urea to leaf litter may be applied in the fall in order to hasten leaf
decomposition and therefore reduce primary inoculums.
FIRE BLIGHT OF APPLE
 C.O : Erwinia amylovora (Burrill) Winslow
 Fire blight is a destructive bacterial disease of apples and pears that kills blossoms,
shoots, limbs, and, sometimes, entire trees.
Symptoms:
 Blossom blight Symptoms most often appear within one to two weeks after bloom and
usually involve the entire blossom cluster, which wilts and dies, turning brown on apple
and quite black on pear. When weather is favorable for pathogen development, globules
of bacterial ooze can be seen on the blossoms.
 The spur bearing the blossom cluster also dies and the infection may spread into and
kill portions of the supporting limb. The tips of young infected shoots wilt, forming a
very typical shepherd's crook symptom. Older shoots that become infected after they
develop about 2leaves may not show this curling symptom at the tip.
 As the infection spreads down the shoot axis, the leaves first show dark streaks in the
mid veins, then wilt and turn brown, remaining tightly attached to the shoot throughout
the season.
 As with blossom infections, the pathogen often invades and kills a portion of the limb
supporting the infected shoot. The first symptom on water sprouts and shoots that are
invaded systemically from nearby active cankers is the development of a yellow to
orange discoloration of the shoot tip before wilting occurs.
 In addition, the petioles and mid veins of the basal leaves on such sprouts usually
become necrotic before those at the shoot tip.
 Depending on the cultivar and its stage of development at the time infection occurs, a
single blossom or shoot infection can result in the death of an entire limb, and where
the central leader or trunk of the tree is invaded, a major portion of the tree can be killed
in just one season. In general, infections of any type that occur between petal fall and
terminal bud set usually lead to the greatest limb and tree loss. In addition, heavily
structured trees tend to suffer less severe limb loss than those trained to weaker systems
for high productivity.
Disease cycle:
 The bacteria over winter in bark tissues along the edges of cankers caused by infection
in previous years.
 The bacteria multiplies in the spring, the cankers exude a characteristic ooze, and the
bacteria are disseminated by rain and insects to vulnerable tissues - especially open
blossoms, tender vegetative shoot tips, and young leaves.
 The bacteria penetrate the tree at natural openings or wounds. Secondary infection
arises from fresh infections.
 Monitoring in orchard blocks where the disease occurred during the previous season.
 Observe blighted limbs and shoots for removal during normal pruning operation.
 There may be a need to remove whole trees on some occasions.
 A very important aspect of fire blight Management involves monitoring the weather for
the specific conditions that govern the build-up of inoculum in the orchard, the blossom
infection process and the appearance of Symptoms

64
  Primary source of inoculum Over wintering cankers harboring the fire blight pathogen
are often clearly visible on trunks and large limbs as slightly to deeply depressed areas
of discolored bark, which are sometimes cracked about the margins.
 Secondary source of inoculum: Bacterial droplets on blossom
Dissemination:
 Disseminated by bees and other pollinating insects and by rain.
 Primary source of inoculum: Affected cankers.
 Secondary source of inoculum: splash born bacterial cells.
Fire Blight Management - Cultural Control
 Dormant Season:
 Fire blight over wintering cankers have either smooth or cracked margins. Both types
of cankers should be removed.
 The smooth margined cankers are harder to see, but they are also more likely to be
active than rough margined cankers.
 Active cankers may enlarge in the spring causing further structural damage. They also
provide inoculum for new infections
 One or more separate operations to prune out cankers are recommended.
 Since cankers may be hard to locate, it is always best to go over the orchard several
times. Cankers are most visible on bright, sunny days.
 Make cuts 15-3cm below the canker margins.
 It is not considered necessary to sterilize pruning tools during the dormant season.
 Do, however, disinfect your tools if spring pruning is extended into late spring when
temperatures have warmed up and/or the budburst stage has arrived.
 These conditions may also reactivate the infectious bacteria in cankers
 In fact, an additional inspection for cankers around the budburst stage may reveal
cankers that were missed earlier.
Growing Season:
 Remove current season infections as soon as they are noticed.
 Prune out infected branches at least 30-4cm below the visibly diseased part. This is
necessary as bacteria are usually present beyond the discoloured area.
 Dip tools in a disinfectant between each cut.
 Flag trees that have been pruned, and watch for further Symptoms or the development
of cankers.
 Prunings should be removed and burned immediately.
 Scout for new fire blight strikes every 3 or 4 days. Frequent scouting will aid removal
of new infections before they have a chance to invade the structural wood.
 Where infections occur on shoots attached to scaffold limbs or the trunk, it is not always
possible to cut back 3cm without sacrificing the limb or even the tree.
 An option on large trees is to scrape out dis coloured inner bark using a hatchet or knife,
down to clean wood, and disinfect the cut surface.
 Summer pruning (other than removal of strikes) should be avoided during a serious
outbreak, due to the danger of spreading the disease.
 If there is any fire blight in the area, disinfect your tools while summer pruning.
Disinfectants:
 Good disinfectants for tools include household bleach, Lysol Concentrated Disinfectant
and Pine Sol, as well as commercial disinfectants such as Chemprocide. Mix according
to label instructions.-
 Bleach can be diluted up to 1:5 with water, and needs to be mixed fresh every day.
 Tools can either be dipped into, or sprayed with the disinfectant solution.

65
  If you use bleach, be aware that it will corrode metal tools and damage your clothing.
Ideally, tools should be disinfected after every cut. Dilute disinfectant can also be
sprayed on the bark after cutting out an infected branch.
 Don't over fertilize the trees. Excess nitrogen causes vigorous shoot growth, which is
more susceptible. Nutrient application should be balanced, preferably based on soil and
leaf analysis. Application of fertilizer should also be timed to avoid a late flush of
growth, because late season infections are more likely to produce cankers that allow the
bacteria to over winter.
 Do not run overhead sprinklers while blossom is present on the tree and weather is
favorable for fire blight infection. Overhead irrigation may increase fire blight by
splashing bacteria around from tree to tree, and by increasing moisture and humidity
levels in the canopy. Cutting back on irrigation may also help to slow down over-
vigorous trees.
 Control insects with sucking mouthparts such as aphids, leafhoppers and pear psylla.
These insects can spread fire blight.
Chemical Control:
 Antibiotic streptomycin, fixed copper compounds (copper oxychloride), and copper
sulfate (Bordeaux), as well as the biopesticides BlightBan and Bloomtime.
 These are protectants and therefore must be applied before infection occurs. They will
not cure diseased tissue.
Insect control:-
 The role of insects in the transmission of fire blight bacteria is under investigation.- It
is likely that insects that cause wounds (leafhoppers, plant bugs, pear psylla) can create
places for bacteria to enter the tree, and some summer infections (shoot blight) are
probably facilitated by insects Resistant cultivars:-
 Red Delicious, Liberty, Enterprise and Freedom.
Powdery Mildew
Disease causing organism:Podosphaera leucotricha (Ell. and Eva.) Salmon
Symptoms:
 Evidence of powdery mildew infection may appears on primaryleaves, buds, shoots,
blossoms, and fruit. Symptoms of infections on the leaves most often are seen as
whitish, felt-like patches of fungal mycelium and spores. These Symptoms most
commonly appear first on the lower surface of the leaves. Lesions may also appear on
the upper surface as chlorotic spots, or cover the entire leaf with powdery, white spores
and mycelium. Curling and crinkling of the leaves can occur as a result of infections
along the leaf margin. Leaves affected severely by the disease may fall off Buds which
are infected with powdery mildew can become more susceptible to winter injury. Fruit
infections on certain cultivars result in a netlike russeting.
Disease Cycle:
 The fungus over winters in the dormant buds that had been infected in the preceding
growing season. Buds which have been infected are more susceptible to winter damage.
Below temperatures of 12 F the survival rate of the over wintering buds is generally
less than 5%. The over wintering fungus within the bud produces spores that initiate
the primary infections of the disease cycle in the spring. Unlike the apple scab fungus,
the spores of powdery mildew do not require a film of water in order to germinate The
resulting infections of the young leaves and blossoms then provide inoculum for
secondary cycles of the diseases.
Dissemination:
 In the spring, spores are produced by the powdery mildew fungus which has over
wintered in the buds, and are carried by winds to vulnerable (young) tissues.

66
  PSI; dormant mycelia
 SSI; barrel shaped conidia

Management:
 Key times for Management From tight cluster until terminal growth stops, particularly
the period after petal fall when vegetative growth is rapid. Begin to look for signs of
infection when leaves emerge from the bud.
 Management Options Depending on the susceptibility of the cultivar and the impact of
cold weather temperatures on over wintering inoculum survival, chemical control may
be needed.
 Cultural ControlsPlant cultivars which are less susceptible to the disease. Reduce
humidity in the tree canopy by pruning to increase air, light, and spray penetration.
 ChemicalBavistin 0.5gm per lit
CEDAR APPLE RUST
 Disease causing agent: Gymnosporangium juniperi virginianae.
Symptoms:
 Infections first appear on apple as bright yellow-orange foliar lesions on the upper
surface of leaves, petioles, and young fruit. Lesions may be bordered by a red band or
a chlorotic halo. Fruit lesions which occur on fruit are superficial and extend not more
than 1/16 inch into the flesh. They occur most often on the calyx end of the fruit. On
cedar the fungus produces brown to reddish brown leaf galls.
Dissemination:
 Spores produced on eastern red cedar are discharged following rain, and disseminated
by wind currents to apple hosts. Spores produced on apple may also be carried by wind
to cedars
 Primary source of inoculumtelial galls on cedar plant
 Secondary source of inoculumairborne basidio spores
Disease Cycle:
 Unlike some other diseases, cedar apple rust requires two hosts in order to complete its
lifecycle. On eastern red cedar, the fungus causes galls to form. Spring rains cause the
red cedar galls to exude horn-like structures called telia, which become swollen and
jelly-like, and which dry back to dark brown threads when the rains cease. Swelling
and drying of the telia occurs repeatedly throughout the spring.
 The telia produce teliopores, which germinate during rain to produce basidiospores.
The basidiospores may be carried by the wind for more than 1 mile to vulnerable apple
tissue. The spores which land on young apple tissue then germinate if there is a film of
water upon the leaves for a sufficient period of time.
 One to two weeks after infection the lesions on the upper sides of the leaves (or fruit)
produce watery orange drops, and then produce small orange-brown dots (pycnia)
containing pycniospores. Two weeks after the formation of the pycniospores, aecia
bearing aeciospores appear on the lower surface of the leaves (or on fruit). These are
released during dry weather during July and August. These are then disseminated by
the wind and those that land on eastern red cedar infect them, and form mature galls
after two years of infection.
Management:
 Key times for Management Spores are released from cedar during rainy periods from
the last week in April until mid-June, with the peak release from pink until full bloom.
Lesions are first visible on the upper sides of the leaves in spring to early summer.

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  Management Options The grower should be most concerned aut cedar apple rust if the
cultivars grown in the orchard are susceptible to the disease, if there are eastern red
cedars in the vicinity, and if there are numerous rainy periods during the spring.
 Cultural Management Options Sources of infection may be reduced by cutting down
nearby eastern red cedar, but it is difficult to entirely eliminate sources of infection due
to the distance spores are able to be carried by the wind. Some apple cultivars are
resistant to cedar apple rust, and may be grown without fungicide sprays to control it.
 Certain scab fungicides may also control cedar apple rust mancozeb 2 ml per lit
Black Rot
Disease causing organism:Botryospaeria obtusa (Schwein)Shoemaker
Dissemination: Spores are disseminated by wind and rain
Symptoms :
 Signs of leaf infection usually appear 1-3 weeks after petal fall and become visible as
small purple flecks that enlarge to form circular lesions. The margins of the lesions
remain purple while the centers become tan to brown (this disease is often called
frogeye leaf spot due to these Symptoms).
 Black Rot fruit Symptoms on the fruit first appear as red flecks that will turn purple and
be bordered by a red ring. As the lesions enlarge, they form a series of rings alternating
from black to brown. The lesions of the fruit will remain firm. Also, Symptoms include
cankers on limbs that begin as reddish brown areas which are slightly sunken.
 Cankers on limbs may remain small or enlarge to become several feet long.
Disease cycle:
 The fungus over winters in cankers, dead bark, twigs, and in and mummified apples on
the tree. Spores are released during rainy periods. Infection occurs through stomata,
cracks, and wounds.
Management:
 Key times for Management. A critical time for Management of leaf infections is
between tight cluster and pink. Fruit infection can begin as sepal infection early in the
season and new infection can occur throughout the growing season.
 Management options. A major decrease in incidence of this disease can be attained
though cultural means. Control is usually attained through a combination of cultural
and chemical methods.
 Cultural Controls Piles of pruning should be removed from the orchard and burned, or
they may be left on the orchard floor and chopped with a flail mower. Remove
HYPERLINK
http://orchard.uvm.edu/uvmapple/pest/BacktoBasics/Diseases/Black%20Rot.html
FELSandmummymummified apples, dead wood, and shoots infected with black rot in
order to remove sources of inoculum.
 Chemical :carbendazim 2 g/lit
SOOTY BLOTCH
Disease causing organisms: A complex of fungi which includes Leptodontium elatius (G. and
Geastrumia polystigmatus Batista)
Symptoms:
 Colonies of the fungi on the fruit resemble images sooty or cloudy olive green blotches
on the surface of the fruit. The fungus grows superficially on the surface of the fruit and
may be easily wiped away.
Dissemination: Sooty blotch spores are released during rainy periods and are disseminated by
wind.
Disease Cycle: The fungi over winter on infested apple twigs and on numerous forest trees.
During rains in the spring and early summer the spores are dispersed, with secondary spread

68
occurring throughout the season. Fruit infection can occur as early as 2-3 weeks after petal fall.
Infections are most likely to occur during periods of frequent rain and high humidity.
Symptoms of infection may not be apparent until some time (typically 2to 25 days) after the
initial establishment of infection.
Management:
 Key times for Management. The key time for Management begins 1-2 weeks after petal
fall and continues until 2-3 weeks before harvest. Temperatures between 6and 70C
 Cultural practices. Remove reservoir hosts from the orchard and from the perimeter of
the orchard. Sooty blotch the humid conditions present in poorly pruned trees and in
damp, slow-drying areas of the orchard. Winter and summer prune in order to increase
air, light, and spray penetration. Thinning fruit to separate fruit clusters facilitates the
drying of the fruit after rainy periods.
 Chemical; 1% Bordeaux mixture
FLYSPECK
Disease causing organism:Zygophiala jamaicensis E. Mason
Dissemination:
 Spores which produce primary infection are disseminated by wind during rainy periods
from over wintering sites. Spores which produce secondary infections may be wind or
water borne.
Symptoms:
 Flyspeck appears on the fruit in well-defined groups of shiny, black dots which grow
on the surface of the fruit. Areas of these dots are usually less than an inch in diameter.
Fungi grow superficially on the fruit and may be wiped from the surface easily.
Disease cycle:
 The fungus over winters on infested apple twigs and on reservoir hosts such as
brambles. Spores are then released during rainy periods just before bloom to 1-2 months
after bloom, and are carried by wind to the host in order to create the primary infection.
The spores then germinate and create superficial fungal growth. Colonies become
visible and spores are produced in approximately three weeks. Secondary infection
develops on the twigs and on the apple fruit. The spores which create secondary
infection are also airborne and are released after sunrise.
Management:
 Key times for Management A key time for apple infection accumulated from 1days past
petal fall. Periods of frequent occurs after 27hours of leaf wetness have rainfall during
above normal summer temperatures are particularly favorable to an outbreak of this
disease. Management OptionsA major decrease in incidence of this disease can be
attained through cultural practices.
 Cultural Management Options Pruning for air and light penetration and thinning of fruit
clusters can reduce incidence of this disease. Mowing nearby ditches and banks to
decrease the amount of nearby reservoir hosts may also be helpful.
 Chemical; bavistin 2gm /lit
Phytopthora Crown Rot, Collar Rot, and Root Rot
Disease causing organisms: fungi in the genus Phytopthora
(Collar rot affects the scion portion of the tree, crown rot affects the rootstock portion of the
tree. Root rot affects the root system away from the crown region.)
Dissemination:
 Soil born fungal pathogen. Pathogen survives in soil for several years as spores,
especially in old orchard soils. May also be brought into the orchard on infected nursery
stock.

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Symptoms:
 Cankers may be seen at or below the ground line, and may extend from the original site
of infection into the root system and up the trunk to the bud union and above the bud
union if the scion is also susceptible. Infected bark is brown and often slimy when wet.
When the bark is pulled away, the cambium and phloem will be an orange, reddish
brown color. The cankers caused by the fungus girdle the tree, resulting in poor
vegetative growth and chlorotic foliage that may turn purple in the autumn. A severely
infected tree may die. Trees may be killed in one growing season or may linger for a
number of growing seasons.
Disease cycle:
 The fungus survives in the soil as thick-walled spores (oospores) that are resistant to
drought and relatively resistant to chemical treatment. The fungus may also be brought
in on infected nursery stock and in contaminated irrigation water. Mobile spores
(zoospores) originating from the oospores move to the tree and colonize the apple bark
tissue. The fungus may build up to high levels in the soil in a short period under
favorable conditions - i.e. during wet, cool periods after harvest and in spring.
Monitoring and Management:
 The best time to manage Phytopthora diseases is during the initial stages of orchard
establishment, when selecting the orchard site, planting, site preparation and rootstock
selection. Management Options While there are some fungicides registered for control
of Phytopthora, Management is best achieved through cultural methods.
 Cultural Controls Primary control of Phytopthora diseases is culture. When planting a
new orchard, select the site and rootstocks carefully. Be sure the orchard site has
adequate drainage throughout the year. When irrigating the orchard, do not saturate the
soil for prolonged period is. Use rootstocks resistant to infection by the disease. Scion
cultivars may also be chosen for resistance.
 Chemical Mancozeb 2g/lit

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 13. Disease of Pear

S. N.: Persea Americana Family: Rosaceae

LIST OF PEAR DISEASES

1. Pear scab Venturia inaequalis
2. Powdery mildew Podosphaera leucotricha
3. Pacific Coast Pear Rust Gymnosporangium libocedri
4. Fire blight Erwinia amylovora
5. Crown gall Agrobacterium tumefaciens
6. Fabraea Leaf Spot Fabraea maculata
7. Pear decline Phytoplasma disease
1. Powdery mildew
Casual organism- Podosphaera leucotricha
Symptoms –
 On leaves- whitish powdery growth on upper & lower side comprising of oidea
 On stem- whitish powdery growth
 On fruits- whitish powdery growth but in dry condition
Etiology-
 Mycelia –septate, subepidermal houstiria
 Asexual spore-conidia
 Asexual fruiting body- oidium
 Sexual spore- ascospore
 Sexual fruiting body- cleistothecium
 Primary source of inoculum: dormant mycelia in infected dormant bud
 Secondary source of inoculum- barrel shaped conidia
Epidemiology-
 Warm weather condition
 Temperature- 28-32 ‘c
 Relative humadity- 80-90 %
 Intermittent rainfall
Management-
Cultural-
 Pruning of canker affected part & paste CoC at cut end
 Spray 5% urea on fallen leave
 Optimum plant density
 Use of drip irrigation
Chemical-
 Calcium oxychloride 0.3%
 Bordeux mixture 1%
 Streptocyclin 0.05%
Biological-
 Erwinia herbicola
 Psuedomonas fluorescens
2. FIRE BLIGHT – Erwinia amylovora
Symptoms:
Affected parts appear to be scorched by fire. A watery ooze may be exuded from
infected plant parts. The disease may kill entire trees. Fruit which are infected early
remain small and appear shriveled, dark, and ‘water soaked’. They will remain attached
to the cluster.

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 Fruits affected later are less tasted

Disease cycle:
The bacteria over winter in bark tissues along the edges of cankers caused by infection
in previous years. The bacteria multiplies in the spring, the cankers exude a
characteristic ooze, and the bacteria are disseminated by rain and insects to vulnerable
tissues - especially open blossoms, tender vegetative shoot tips, and young leaves. The
bacteria penetrate the tree at natural openings or wounds. Secondary infection arises
from ooze from fresh infections.
Disease causing organism: Erwinia amylovora (Burrill) Winslow
Dissemination:
Disseminated by bees and other pollinating insects and by rain
Primary source of inoculum: Bacterial cells present on affected cankers and on cracks and
cravices.
Secondary source of inoculum: Rain splash borne bacterial cells
Monitoring and Management:
The need for chemical control depends on a combination of orchard risk factors and weather
conditions. Infection is most likely to occur after 200 degree hours (base 65 F) have
accumulated since the first blossom has opened in the orchard. Predictive models of likely
infection periods (such as the Washington fire blight risk model and the Maryblyt model) can
help growers to determine when such sprays may be needed
Management Options:
Control of fire blight is aimed at reducing the level of inoculum in the orchard, reducing the
susceptibility of the trees through horticultural practices, and preventing infection at critical
and times through the use of bactericides.
Cultural Practices:
Reduce primary inoculum by removing infected plant material when winter pruning. Inspect
orchard weekly during the growing season remove infected plant material. When removing
infected plant material, cut infected branches at least 12 - 18 inches below the lowest evidence
of disease. When removing infected plant material during the growing season, prune only on
sunny, hot days when rain is not predicted.
Control insect vectors in the orchard. When planting new orchards, avoid susceptible cultivars.
Plant well-drained soil. Maintain proper orchard nutrition in order to discourage excessive tree
vigor.
Chemical:
COC (0.3%) and STREPTOCYCLIN (0,05%)
3. Pacific Coast Pear Rust
Casual organism-: Gymnosporangium libocedri
Symptoms:
Leaf: Spots fade and darken as the leaf matures or falls off the tree. Green shoots and leaves
also are attacked but not as frequently.
Fruit: Pear fruit are malformed while young and drop from the tree. Bright yellowish to
orangish spots with numerous cup-shape pustules (aecia) develop over the fruit surface.
Oriental and European cultivars are susceptible. ‘Winter Nelis’ is severely affected, but
‘Bartlett’ is not.
Dissemination : Spores produced on eastern red cedar are discharged following rain, and
disseminated by wind currents to pear hosts. Spores produced on pear may also be carried by
wind to cedars
Primary source of inoculum: telial galls on cedar plant becoming air borne basidiopsores.
Secondary source of inoculum: airborne basidiospores

72
Cultural control: Remove alternate hosts around the orchard.
The grower should be most concerned aut cedar pear rust if the cultivars grown in the orchard
are susceptible to the disease, if there are eastern red cedars in the vicinity, and if there are
numerous rainy periods during the spring.
Cultural Management Options: Sources of infection may be reduced by cutting down nearby
eastern red cedar, but it is difficult to entirely eliminate sources of infection due to the distance
spores are able to be carried by the wind. Some pear cultivars are resistant to cedar pear rust,
and may be grown without fungicide sprays to control it.
Chemical: Certain scab fungicides may also control cedar pear rust mancozeb 2 ml per lit
4. Fabraea Leaf Spot
Casual organnnism; - Fabraea maculata
Symptoms:
Leaf :spot can be found on petioles, leaves, shoots and fruits. Initial lesions on leaves are tiny,
round, purplish-black spots, which quickly enlarge to 1/8 to 1/4 inch in diameter and usually
have a blackish-brown center (photo 2-46). Spots coalesce and severely infected leaves fall to
the ground prematurely. A small black acervulus may develop in the center of each lesion, from
which conidia ooze in a creamy, white mass in wet weather.
Fruit :lesions (photo 2-47) are larger than those on leaves and cause the fruit to crack and drop.
Lesions on current season's shoots may be observed as small inconspicuous, purplish-black
spots. Some lesions develop into superficial cankers, but most are walled-off during the next
growing season, so that cankers rarely persist in two-year-old wood.
Disease Cycle: The four-celled conidia (Entomosporium maculatum), with a distinctive insect-
like appearance, are spread mainly from overwintering leaf litter, and some from twig cankers,
by splashing water from rains or overhead irrigation. Wetting periods for infection may vary
from 8 to 12 hours at temperatures of 50 to 77 F (10-25 C). Lesions begin to appear about 7
days after the beginning of an infection period. The disease may advance rapidly in late summer
as wind and rain distribute the conidia throughout the tree. Susceptibility of leaves and fruit to
infection does not decrease with maturity. Nearly all pears of European descent are susceptible
to this leaf spot.
Management:
This disease is controlled with applications of protectant fungicides.
Early-season spray programs for pear scab should also control early-season leaf spot infections.
Where ascospores and conidia of the fungus occur after petal fall, summer fungicide treatments
are needed
5. Phytopthora Crown Rot, Collar Rot and Root Rot
(Collar rot affects the scion portion of the tree, crown rot affects the rootstock portion of the
tree. Root rot affects the root system away from the crown region.)
Disease causing organisms: Phytopthora spp.
Dissemination: Soil born fungal pathogen. Pathogen survives in soil for several years as
spores, especially in old orchard soils. May also be brought into the orchard on infected nursery
stock.
Symptoms:
Cankers may be seen at or below the ground line, and may extend from the original site of
infection into the root system and up the trunk to the bud union and above the bud union if the
scion is also susceptible. Infected bark is brown and often slimy when wet. When the bark is
pulled away, the cambium and phloem will be an orange, reddish brown color. The cankers
caused by the fungus girdle the tree, resulting in poor vegetative growth and chlorotic foliage
that may turn purple in the autumn. A severely infected tree may die. Trees may be killed in
one growing season or may linger for a number of growing seasons.

73
Disease cycle:
The fungus survives in the soil as thick-walled spores (oospores) that are resistant to drought
and relatively resistant to chemical treatment. The fungus may also be brought in on infected
nursery stock and in contaminated irrigation water. Mobile spores (zoospores) originating from
the oospores move to the tree and colonize the pear bark tissue. The fungus may build
up to high levels in the soil in a short period under favorable conditions - i.e. during wet, cool
periods after harvest and in spring.
Monitoring and Management:
Key times for management: The best time to manage Phytopthora diseases is during the initial
stages of orchard establishment, when selecting the orchard site, planting, site preparation and
rootstock selection. Management Options: While there are some fungicides registered for
control of Phytopthora, management is best achieved through cultural methods.
Cultural Controls: Primary control of Phytopthora diseases is culture. When planting a new
orchard, select the site and rootstocks carefully. Be sure the orchard site has adequate drainage
throughout the year. When irrigating the orchard, do not saturate the soil for prolonged period
is. Use rootstocks resistant to infection by the disease. Scion cultivars may also be chosen for
resistance.
Chemical: Bordeaux mixture 1% or Copper oxychloride (.03%) or Mancozeb 0.25%
6. Pear –decline
Casual organism:- Phytoplasma like organism Symptoms: Pear decline is characterized by
two phases: quick decline and slow decline. Trees may wilt, scorch, and die in a few weeks or
lose vigor over several seasons during which foliage gets sparse with little or no terminal
growth and leaf size is reduced.
An abnormal early red leaf coloration has been observed frequently on affected trees.
Examining the graft union reveals a brown line on the cambial face of the phloem tissue. (Use
a pocket knife to expose the cambium.)
Cultural control:
1. Use resistant or tolerant rootstocks.
2. Use the best orchard management practices, including the best possible insect and disease
control, irrigation, drainage, fertilization, and pruning.
3. Control pear psylla.
4. When grafting Asian pear trees over to European (P. communis) cultivars, graft below the
union of the Asian pear with its rootstock to avoid creating a highly decline-susceptible tree.
7. Pear scab
Casual organism-: Venturia pirina,
Symptoms: In spring, sooty spots with a soft velvet look appear on young fruit, stems, calyx
lobes, or flower petals.
fruit :Young infected fruit frequently drops or is misshapen. Scab spots expand with growth
until halted by dry weather or sprays. Old fruit infections often crack open. Cracks are
surrounded by russeted, corky tissue and then an olive-color ring of active fungus growth. If
fruit is infected late in the season, about 2 weeks before harvest, pinpoint scab spots often show
up in storage a month or more later.
On leaves: olive-black spots expand with leaf growth but often cause the leaf to twist
abnormally. Infected twigs show small blisterlike infections the size of a pinhead and develop
a corky layer. Many twig infections are sloughed off during the summer season.
Etiology
 mycelia –septate, subepidermal houstiria
 Asexual spore- spilocea type of conidia
 Asexual fruiting body- Sexual spore- ascospore

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  Sexual fruiting body- psuedothecium
PSI; pathogen survive on affected fallen leaves
SSI; Airborne conidia
Cultural control:
1. Carefully discing to cover old leaves with soil, where practical, may help reduce spring
infections.
2. Pruning out infected twigs also offers some benefit.
3. Applying dolomitic lime after leaf drop in fall to increase soil pH also helps reduce inoculum
the next spring.
Chemical control: spray schedule-
Spray- silver tip to green stage mancozeb @ 2g/l or chlorothalonil @ 2g/l
Spray –pink to blooming stage carbendazim @ 1.5g/l
Spray- young fruit coc @ 3g/l
Spray – maturation stage mancozeb @ 2g/l
Spray –postharvest benomyl @ 1g/l
Biological control:

8. Crown gall of pear-

Symptoms
The disease first appears as small overgrowths or galls on the roots, crown, trunk, or canes.
Galls usually develop on the crown or trunk of the plant near the soil line or underground on
the roots. Above ground or aerial galls may form on canes of brambles and highly susceptible
cultivars of pear. Although they can occur, aerial galls are not common on fruit trees.
Below ground symptoms:-
In early stages of development the galls appear as tumor-like swellings that are more or less
spherical, white or flesh-colored, rough, spongy (soft), and wart-like. They usually form in late
spring or early summer and can be formed each season. As galls age they become dark brown
to black, hard, rough, and woody. Some disintegrate with time and others may remain for the
life of the plant.
Above ground symptoms:-
The tops of infected plants may appear normal. If infection is severe, plants may be stunted,
produce dry, poorly-developed fruit, or show various deficiency symptoms due to impaired
uptake and transport of nutrients and water.
Causal Organism
The crown gall bacterium is soil-borne and persists for long periods of time in the soil in plant
debris. It requires a fresh wound in order to infect and initiate gall formation.
Infection process:-
Wounds that commonly serve as infection sites are those made during pruning, machinery
operations, freezing injury, growth cracks, soil insects, and any other factor that causes injury
to plant tissues. Bacteria are abundant in the outer portions of primary galls, which is often
sloughed off into the soil. In addition to primary galls, secondary galls may also form around
other wounds and on other portions of the plant in the absence of the bacterium. The bacteria
overwinter inside the plant (systemically) in galls, or in the soil. When they come in contact
with wounded tissue of a susceptible host, they enter the plant and induce gall formation, thus
completing the disease cycle. The bacteria are most commonly introduced into a planting site
on or in planting material.

75
Control
1. Obtain clean (disease free) nursery stock from a reputable nursery and inspect the roots and
crowns yourself to make sure they are free from galls. Avoid planting clean material in sites
previously infested with the bacteria.
2. Avoid all unnecessary root, crown, and trunk wounding by careless cultivation and other
machinery operation, and control soil insects. Any practice that reduces wounding is highly
beneficial. Preventing winter injury (especially on pears) is also beneficial.
3. On pears, the double trunk system of training may be a useful system for minimizing losses
due to crown gall. If one trunk is infected, it can be removed. The remaining trunk can be
pruned leaving a full number of buds until the second trunk can be renewed. Galls on the
upper parts of the trunk or on canes can be removed by pruning.
4. A relatively new biological control agent for crown gall is available for pear, pear, stone
fruit, blueberry, brambles, and many ornamentals.

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 14. Disease of Peach
Botanical name: Prunus persica Family: Rosaceae
Origin: china
List of diseases
1. Leaf curl –Taphrina deformans
2. Rust – Puccinia pruni – spinosae
3. California peach blight- Stigmina carpophila
4. Scab – Venturia carpophila
Minor diseases
1. Powdery mildew –Sphaerotheca pannosa var. persicae
2. Frosty mildews – Cercosporella persicae
3. Target leaf spot – Phyllosticta persicae
4. Bacterial leaf spot: Pseudomonas syringae pv. persicae
5. Gummosis: Prunus dwarf virus
6. Mosaic virus
7. Necrotic Leaf spot: virus
8. Peach- X : Phytoplasma like organism
9. Peach yellows : Phytoplasma like organism
Major Diseases
1. Peach leaf curl: Taphrina deformans
In India this disease is prevalent in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu& Kashmir.
Symptoms:
 The disease first appears in the early spring as the leaves begin to unfold
 The leaf blade thickens and midrib turns yellow &curl
 Finally leaf turn to reddish purple tint
 The reddish velvety surface of lamina is soon covered with a whitish grey bloom of the
fungus on the upper surface
 Both the leaves & petiole may curl
 Affected leaves die & drop immaturely
 Twigs become pale green to yellow, swollen, stunted & exude gummy material
 Flowers and fruits are also infected & drop prematurely
Etiology:
 Mycelia are intercellular and it does not produce specific ascocarp.
 Asci are produced (Open ascus) individually and measure 25to 40 into 8 to11 micro
meter.
 Each ascus bears eight ascospores with a diameter of 3 to 7 micro meter. .
Epidemiology:
 The disease is prevalent in areas where cool mist spring weather prevails and the dry
hot weather hastens defoliation
o Primary source of inoculum: Dormant mycelia in the affected stem
o Secondary source of inoculum: Air borne conidia
Management:
 Removal & burning of infected shoots reduce the spread of the disease
 A dormant spray with Bordeaux mixture (1%) with an adhesive & a winter spray with
Bordeaux mixture 1% before bud burst controls the disease
2. RUST: Puccinia pruni-spinosae
Symptoms:
 Pale yellow spots appear on both the surfaces of the leaves.
 Later the spots become bright yellow.

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  On the under surface numerous brown dusty pustules are seen.
 Pustules covered on the under surface of the leaves.
 Defoliation of leaf occurs.
 The fruit is rarely attacked.
Epidemiology
 Primary source of inoculum: Air borne teliospore (teliospores germinate producing
basidiospores becoming wind bonre)
 Secondary source of inoculum: Uredospores
Etiology:
 The fungus persists as perennial mycelium, in the under ground stems of anemone.
 The ascidia produced on this plant during spring infect peach leaves.
Management:
 Cut & burn the affected leaves or plant part.
 Spray with zineb 0.2% or dusting with sulphur.
3. California peach blight /shot hole / pustular spot: Stigmina carpophila
Symptoms:
 The pathogen attacks twigs, blossoms, leaves, fruits & unopened buds.
 Small, circular deep purple spot appear on the fruit.
 The spots become raised & rough.
 Dark brown, scattered lesions enlarge rapidly on the leaves.
 The diseased buds become darken color.
 Small, purplish, raised spots appear on twigs & they expand in to necrotic cankers.
Epidemiology:
 Rise in day temperature & prolonged winter rains are conducive for the epiphytotic
proportions of the disease.
Primary source of inoculum: dormant mycelium survive on the affected plant part.
Secondary source of inoculum: rain splash air borne conidia
Management:
 Cut and burn the affected plant part.
 Spray capton 0.2% or captafol 0.2% to control the disease.
4. SCAB /freckle /black spot: Venturia carpophila
Symptoms:
 The disease occurs on fruit, twigs & leaves.
 Circular & dark –olivasious lesions appear on fruits.
 In sever infection the individual spots merge & form a uniform, dark olivaceous,
velvety blotch.
 A thicky or corky layer of cells is produced below surface the scabbed region.
 The fruit becomes abnormal in shape & cracks.
 On the twigs, light brown oval lesions are formed which enlarge & turn dark brown.
 Dark brown, long& narrow lesions are noticed on the midrib.
Etiology:
 Dormant mycelia, septate mycelia.
 Primary source of inoculum: dormant mycelia in fallen leaves.
 Secondary source of inoculum: spilocea type of conidia (air borne)
 Infection takes place in between the cuticle & epidermis.
Epidemiology:
 9 hour of leaf wetness period, 17-180c temperature, susceptible host.
 In fallen leaves if 200-300 pseudothecia present & leaf wetness is 9 hour, single
pseudothecia produces 800-900 ascospores.

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Management:
 Cut & burn affected plant part.
 Low- lying fields should be avoided for cultivation.
 Tree should be properly pruned to permit free air circulation.
 Timely application of the standard fungicide sprays controls the scab.
 Spraying of 5% urea solution to the fallen leaves.
 Incorporate fallen leaves to the soil.
 Chemical spray with scheduling times like :are
a) silver tip to green tip- mancozeb 4g/liter
b) Pink bud stage-carbendazin @ 1g/ liter.
C) Fruit stage-(pea nut stage) – capton 3g/ liter
d) 40 days before harvest –hexaconozole 1.5g /liter.
 Biological agent’s like- Althelia species, Chaetonium globosum.

MINOR DISEASESL:
5.Powdery mildew: Sphaerotheca pannosa var. persicae.
Symptoms:
 Whitish powdery growth of fungus on leaves young shoots & fruits.
 The young leaves are coated with a thick layer of mycelium &they become narrow &
curled.
 Terminal portion of the shoot covered by white powdery layer.
 White powdery growth later turns to pinkish & finally dark brown.
 Epicarp of fruit becomes leathery & hard.
Primary source of inoculum: dormant mycelia
Secondary source of inoculum: air borne conidia.
Management:
 Use of resistance variety.
 Cut& burn the affected plant part.
 Spraying with sulphur compounds.

6. FROSTY MILDEW: Cercosporella persicae.

Symptoms
 It produces pale green areas on the upper leaf surface and creamy white fungal growth
on lower surface.
 Primary source of inoculum: affected plant parts.
 Secondary source of inoculum: air borne conidia.
Management:
 Cut &burn the affected plant parts.
 Application of wettable sulfur @ 3gram per liter.
7. BACTERIAL LEAF SPOT: Pseudomonas morus-prunorum.
SYMPTOMS:
 Small circular green spots occur on the leaves.
 Later spots become angular, deep purple to black.
 The spotted area falls and shot holes are formed.
 Sever infection leads to defoliation which devitalizes the tree.
 Circular spots are noticed on fruits. They are water-soaked initially and become black.
 Due to intense spotting on the fruits, pitting or cracking occurs in the vicinity of spots.
 Twigs canker results in the death of branch.
Management:
 Cut & burn the affected plant parts.

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  Spraying with zinc sulphate-lime solution is affective.
8 Bacterial canker / gummosis: Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae vanHall.
Symptoms
 The disease attacks trunk, limbs, shoots, fruit spurs, blossom, dormant buds, leave &
fruits.
 The bark & outer sap wood show circular to elongated, water –soaked lesions.
 Bark becomes brown& gummy.
 The girdled branches die.
 Blossom blight takes place& purple lesions appear on leaves.
 Primary source of inoculum: affected plant
 Secondary source of inoculum: air borne bacterial cell.
Management:
 Cut &burn the affected plant part.
 Aerial spray of streptocyclin 0.5g/ liter.
 Resistant varieties -barbank, black champa, elephant heart & maripo
9. Peach mosaic: virus.
Symptoms:
 Leaves emerging during spring & summer show light green mosaic & ring spot mottle.
 They become small & deformed.
 Stunting growth of the plant and short inter nodes.
 Yellow mottling are seen on new growth flushes during spring
Vector-eriophyid mite.
Mode of spread: It transmits through grafting and also by Eriophyid mites.
Management:
 Use of disease free planting material.
 Exposing the planting material to 37oC for 15- 39 days.
 Apricot seedling can be used as a resistant root stock.
 Removal of host plant.
 Spraying with acaricide against mite pests will reduce the spread of the disease.
10. Necrotic leaf spot: virus
Symptoms:
 Initially ring- spots on the leaves which later become necrotic.
 Necrotic tissues later fall down and leave holes in the leaves.
Mode of spread: It transmits through grafting.
Management:
 Use of disease free planting material.
 Exposing the planting material to 37 degree centigrade for 15- 39 days.
 Apricot seedling can be used as a resistant root stock.
 Removal of host plant
11. Peach “x”: phytoplasma –like organism.
Symptoms:
 The trees show varying degree of anthocyanosis, twig and shoot die-back and general
decline.
 Affected leaves roll upward on affected branches.
 Falling of leaves prematurely.
 Fruits are small, malformed and abort without proper ripening.
Mode of spread: It transmits through grafting and leaf hopper.
Vector: leaf hopper and it also transmit by dodder (Cuscuta reflexa)
Management:
 Use of disease free planting material.

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  Exposing the planting material to 37oC for 15- 39 days.
 Apricot seedling can be used as a resistant root stock.
 Removal of host plant
12. Peach yellows / paja rosette: phytoplasma –like organism
Symptoms:
 Trees show numerous upright branches growing from the main stem.
 The branches are numerous and the tree looks bush.
 The leaves are small but the basal 1 or 2 leaves are abnormally long.
 Most of the leaves show light green to yellow mottling and have irregular margins and
clearing of veins.
 The trees are stunted and inter nodes are short and looks bushy
 Premature unfolding of leaf bud is common.
 The leaves on affected trees continue to grow even after the fall of normal leaves.
 The larger leaves on affected trees are also mottled
 Later, symptoms of wilting and die back appear, resulting in the death of plant.

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 15. Disease of Plum

S. N.: Prunus domesticaFamily: Rosaceae

1. Plum pocket - Taphrina maculans.

2. Wilt - Verticillium albo-atrum (Reinke & Berth)
3. Leaf curl - Taphrina deformans (Berk & Tul)
4. Bacterial canker - Pseudomonas syringae pv.syringae (van Hall).
5. Bacterial leaf spot - Xanthomonas syringae
6. Line pattern - Plum American line pattern virus.
7. Plum mosaic - Plum line pattern virus & ring spot virus(Kennedy et al)
8. Creamy-white spot - Creamy white spot virus.
1. Plum pocket: Taphrina maculans
Symptoms:
 The symptoms are more prominent on fruits and less prominent on leaves and stem.
 the affected fruits having whitish circular spots on the fruits are completely covered
 Infected fruits doubling their size.
 Affected fruits fail to produce seeds and are hollow then later stages falls off from the
branches.
 On the leaves in rare cases whitish coat will form & leaf falling takes place.
PSI-dormant mycelia.
SSI-Air born conidia
Epidemology
 The disease is prevalent in areas where cool mist spring weather prevails and the dry
hot weather hastens defoliation.
Management
 Removal &burning of infected shoots reduce the spread of the disease.
 Before bud sprout spray sulphur or copper fungicide.
 Incorporate the fallen leaves & spray 5% urea on fallen leaves.
Life cycle:
 The organism produces open ascus no ascocarp. Ascospores may be 4-5.
 After release ascospores budding takes place then it will detach & produces conidia.
 These conidia survive in the cracks near by growing bud & life cycle continues.
2. WILT: Verticillium albo-atrum. (Reinke & Berth)
Symptoms:
 The affected limbs get defoliated in early summer.
 The first declining symptoms are seen on the lower branches.
 Roots of infected plants turn brown & die.
 No partial wilt but lower leaves yellowing.
 Occurs at flowering &fruiting stage.
 Complete loss. Loss depending on seveitrty.
 V – Shaped yellowing of leaf margin.
Etilogy:
Septate mycelia, V – shaped conidiophores, on which single celled conidia is formed.
PSI: dormant mycelia
SSI: conidia (unicellular)
Epidemology:

82
 Warm weather loving alkaline PH &more sever in black clay soil, temperature-28-290,
and RH-80-85%. Low soil moisture, affected soil, nematode infected soil.

Management:
 Cut& burn the affected plant part.
 Treat the seeds with carbendizine.
 Carbendizine 1.5 gm/liter soil drenching.
 Neutralized PH by gypsum application.
 Uproot the initially affected plants& burn.
 High application of K & low N application
 Application of Bavistin at the rate of 1.5 g / liter soil drenching &Trichoderma viridae
reduce the disease.
3. Leaf curl: Taphrina deformans (Berk & Tul)
Symptoms:
 The disease first appears in the early spring as the leaves begin to unfold.
 The leaf blade thickens& midrib turns yellow &curl.
 Finally leaf turns to reddish purple tint.
 The reddish velvety surface of lamina is soon covered with a whitish grey bloom of the
fungus on the upper surface.
 Both the leaves & petiole may curl.
 Affected leaves die & drop immaturely.
 Twigs become pale green to yellow, swollen, stunted & exude gummy material.
 Flowers & fruits are also infected & drop prematurely.
Etiology:
 Mycelia are intercellular & it does not produce ascocarp.
 Asci are produced individually & measure 25to 40 into 8 to11 micro meter.
 Each ascus bears eight ascospores with a diameter of 3 to 7micro meter.
Epidemology:
The disease is prevalent in areas where cool mist spring weather prevails & the dry hot
weather hastens defoliation.
PSI: dormant mycelia in affected stem.
SSI: air borne conidia.
Management:
 Removal & burning of infected shoots reduce the spread of the disease.
 A dormant spray with Bordeaux mixture (6:10:100) with an adhesive & a winter spray
with Bordeaux mixture 1.2% before bud burst control the disease.
Life cycle:
The fungus is spread by wind and rain and attacks the leaves as they break bud and fruit
as it begins to develop during cool, wet weather. A single layer of spore-producing
tissue develops on the infected plant part, giving the blistered area a white or translucent
appearance when fresh. Spores are released from this tissue from late spring to
midsummer, and will remain on twigs and bud scales until the following spring.
4. Bacterial canker / gummosis: Pseudomonas syringae pv.syringae (van Hall).
Symptoms
 The disease attacks trunk, limbs, shoots, fruit spurs, blossom, dormant buds, leave &
fruits.
 The bark & outer sap wood show circular to elongated, water –soaked lesions.

83
  Bark becomes brown& gummy.
 The girdled branches die.
 Blossom blight takes place& purple lesions appear on leaves.
PSI: affected plant
SSI: air borne bacterial cell.
Management:
 Cut &burn the affected plant part.
 Aerial spray of streptocyclin 0.5g/ liter.
 Resistant varieties -barbank, black champa, elephant heart & mariposa
5. Bacterial leaf spot: Xanthomonas syringae pv.pruni vauterin.
Symptoms:
 It is most commonly observed in nursery stages.
 The disease appears on leaf surface are angular dark brown spots of 0.5to 3.0 mm
diameter.
 The lesions are bordered by light yellowish green halo.
 In sever condition leaves turn yellow & drop.
PSI: affected plant part
SSI: air borne bacterial cells.
Management:
 Cut &burn the affected plant part.
 Aerial spray of streptocyclin (0.5 g/liter).
6. Line pattern: Plum American line pattern virus.
Symptoms:
 Yellow vein banding in part or whole of the leaf lamina.
 Chlorosis of the entire leaf with stunting of plant.
 Some times green stamen petiole show chlorosis.
 Old branches exhibit aerial rotting.
 Chlorotic spots on ripened fruits.
Mode of spread: through grafting, vector is aphid.
Management:
 Use disease free planting material.
 Exposing the planting material at 37 degree centigrade for 15-39 days.
 Apricot seedlings can be used as resistant root stock, against plum line pattern virus.
7. Plum mosaic: Plum line pattern virus & ring spot virus.(Kennedy et – al)
Symptoms:
 Leaves emerging during spring & summer show light green mosaic & ring spot mottle.
 They become small & deformed.
Mode of spread:
It transmit through grafting.
Management:
 Use of disease free planting material.
 Exposing the planting material to 37 degree centigrade for 15- 39 days.
 Apricot seedling can be used as a resistant root stock.
 Removal of host plant.
8. Creamy-white spot: CREAMY WHITE SPOT VIRUS
Symptoms:
 Small, pale yellow to white spots on the leaves.
 These spots coalesce& form large white areas.

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  This virus is restricted to plum only.
Mode of spred:
Through grafting & aphids.
Management:
 Use of disease free planting material..
 Exposing the planting material to 37 degree centigrade for 15-39 days.
 Apricot seedlings are used as a resistant root stock.
 Removal of host plant.
9. Black knot: Scientific name: Apdiosporina morbosum, a fungus
Species affected: Plums and cherries Where it occurs: throughout the state
Symptoms:
 First year symptoms include light green swellings on twigs.
 By the following spring these have enlarged and turned a velvety black.
Control Recommendations:
 Remove all knots by April 1 and burn.
 Limit pruning to late winter.
 Treat branches with lime sulfur at green tip, full bloom and petal fall

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 16. Diseases of Almond
S. N.: Prunus dulcis (Mill.)Family: Rosaceae
1. Blossom blight and brown rot (Monilinia laxa)
Symptoms:
 Profuse gumming occurs on twigs, where as infection of young leaves show small red
lesion which produce shoot blight.
 Blight develop on green fruit than ripe fruit because mummies remain attached to the
twigs.
 Spots are small, circular, deep purple, raised and appear after attains half size of fruit.
 Then turn brown or black, coalesce, give scurfy appearance to fruit and remain in
retardation.
 Retardation due to excessive exudation of gum from infected area.
Etiology:-
 C.O :Monilinia laxa ( Aderh. And Ruhl.)
 Conidia produced in sporodochia in moniloid chain without disjunctors.
 Apothecia are eight spores. Ascospores are hyaline, narrow ellipsoidal.
 The ascospores size are 7-12 to 4.5-8.5 micro mete.
Epidemiology:-
 Conidia produce on blossom, twigs and fruit infected in previous season as inoculum.
 Apothecia have not found in India.
 Blighted blossom and twigs, mummies and infected peduncles produce sporodochia
and spore which spread by wind, rain.
 At 13-20degree Celsius disease develop within 3 to 6 day.
 Warm and humid weather is favorable .
Management:
 Remove of blighted twigs, mummies.
 Hard shelled cultivars are more resistant to twig blight.
 Remove of other host such as flowering quince.
 Chemical:
 Monocalcium arsenate after leaf fall for healing of leaf scars.
 There after single application of copper fungicides during bloom after that two cover
spray with captan or mancozeb
2. Cytospora canker
C.O:-Cytospora cincta
Symptoms:
 Infection appear as sunken, light colored area around infected node.
 Infected tissues turn dark with age and amber gum may be present if twigs are not killed
 Winter killed twigs are rapidly colonized by Cytospora.
 Symptoms depending on part of attacked.
 On trunk, scaffold limb and older branches produce an amber-colored gum at site of
infection.
 Gum is darken in colored turn brown in colour with age.
 Bark is dried out, its crack open and exposes the blackened tissues beneath.
Etiology:
 Perithecial stromata are rounded.
 Contains eight ascospores which is hyaline, aseptate and ellipsoidal conidia
Epidemiology:
 Most common infection sites are pruning cut, insect injuries , twigs weakened by
shading in tree center ,winter killed bud, bark killer.

86
  Infection occurs primarily on twigs weakened by shading or winter damage.
 Once established weakened tissue fungi invade adjacent healthy tissue.
 Considerable gum is formed in woody tissue.
 In humid weather spores are exuded from pycnidia in brown gelatinous matrix which
form long tendrils'.
 Spores are dispersed by rainfall, wind
 Spores disperse at close to freezing and germinate at 2 degree celcius.
 Sexual fruiting body:- Perithicia.
Management:-
 Delayed pruning until tree are near bloom will heal more rapidly .
 Avoid pruning in wet weather.
 Apply fertilizer only in late winter or spring.
 Trunk and scaffold branches should be painted with white latex paint to prevent
southwest sun heat injuries.
 Chemical:
 Spray tree immediately after pruning with copper fungicides like Bordeaux mix
(4:4:50),copper oxycloride (0.3per cent).
3. Almond Rust:-(Tranzchelia discolor)
Symptoms:-
 Rust pustules are scattered irregularly over the entire leaf surface.
 Yellowish-green spots clearly on both surface .
 Later become bright yellow colure and lower surface have dusty ,dark brown rust sori
located in central portion.
 This sori contain Uredospores.
 In sever infestation complete defoliation take place.
 Fungus continue to live in marginal tissue of affected area and later cool weather .
 Lesion produce on bark .
 In fruiting twigs a small per cent of mycelium and sporulation occurs
 Affected area become soaked dark green spots.
Epidemiology:
 Detailed study on life cycle of rust has not been conducted but some information is
available.
 Stone fruit rust overwinter as uredosori and produce uredospores in springs.
 Alternate host- Anemone coronaria .
 Infection at 15 to 30 degree Celsius.
 Incubation period 7-70 day.
 Leaf and fruit infection at high humid condition.
 Canker develop on young wood also produce spores in late spring act as source of
inoculums.
 Presence of Inoculum depend on Twig infection in late season which remain dormant
till spring.
 Perennial mycelium act as perpetual source of infection.
Management:
 Bordeaux mix 1.0% and lime sulphur 5% before blossom bud burst,
 New fungicides like ergosterol biosynthesis
 Foliar application (25-50ppm)of these fungicides the latent period up to 7 days after
inoculation.
 Mancozeb(0.25%).

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 17. Diseases of Walnut

Scientific name: Juglans nigraFamily: Juglandaceae

1. Anthracnose / leaf blotch:

C. O.:Gnomonia leptostyla
 Affected leaves show small, circular light brown spots which later develop into large
blotches.
 These blotches have an irregular outline and they sometimes involved a major part of
the lamina.
 Black acervuli develop on the lower surface of the affected leaf.
 Brown colour perithecia appear mainly on the affected portion of dead, fallen and
overwintered leaves.
Disease cycle

 PSI - Plant debris on ground

 SSI – Airborne conidia

Management
 Collection of diseased, dead and fallen leaves
 Spraying with copper oxychloride 0.25 per cent in the late spring period at 15 days
interval
 Spraying zineb 0.2 per cent or captan 0.2 per cent four times at fortnightly interval
controls the disease
2. Sooty mould:
C. O.:Sarcinella heterospora sacc.
Symtoms
 The mycelial growth of the pathogen forms diffuse and brown to black crust on the
surface of leaves.
 Gradually a fungal growth become thick, black and wooly ultimately covering the
entire surface.
 It causes premature shedding

3. Bacterial blight:
C. O.:Xanthomonas arboricola pv. Juglandis
Symtoms:
 The bacterium attack the leaves, catkins and nuts.
 Brown to black spots of few millimeter of diameter with yellowish green
perimeter develop on the leaves.
 Individual florets die in the shriveling and discoloration. Early blooming cultivars
suffer more damage.
Management
 Spraying of Bordeaux mixture 1.0 % 3 to 4 times at 14 days interval controls the
disease.
 First spray should be applied on the opening of first female flower.

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 18. Diseases of Strawberry

S. N.: Fragaria × ananassa, Family: Rosaceae.

1. Powdery mildew
Symptoms
 Whitish powdery growth on upper surface of the leaf even young stem defoliation fruit
cracking take place also fruit size reduction reduced fruit yield.
 Occasionally a powdery or surface mildew cause s some damage to plants.
 Casual Organism: Sphaerotheca fragariae.
Etiology
 Mycelium is white, septate, ectophytic and sends globose haustoria into the epidermal
cells of the host. Conidiophores are short and erect.
 Conidia are one celled, oblong, and minutely verrucose with many large fat globules.
 Cleistothecia are formed towards the end of the season on the leaves, petals, stems and
thorns. Cleistothecia are with simple myceloid appendages.
 Each ascus contains 8 ascospores.
Mode of spread and survival
 The fungus over winters mycelium in dormant buds and shoots which are not entirely
killed.
 Either conidia or ascospores serve as primary inoculum. Secondary spread is through
wind borne conidia. ( Cleistothecia of the fungus)
Epidemiology
 Infection occurs when the air is saturated with moisture and the temperature is about
200c.
 Optimum conidial germination occurs at 97 to 9per cent relative humidity and at
temperature ranging between 17 to240c.
 Spore production is maximum at 24 to 280c.
Disease cycle
 Affected leaves, buds and twigs having clestothecia, in favourable conditions it produce
ascus (sexual fruiting body) in that ascospores are present.
 Ascus liberates ascospores and they flight, landing on to the host surface and cause
infection leeds to powdery mildew. White powdery growth comprising of oidea.
 Oidea releases barrel shaped conidia and cause infection and continues asexually life
cycle.
 Adverse climatic conditions the fungus switched on to sexual stage by production of
Antheridium and Ascagonium.
 Gametangial contact type of reproductiononce Ascogonium and Antheridium come in
contact together, plasmogamy, karyogamy, meiosis followed bymitosis and ascospore
formation take place.
Management:
 The diseased and fallen leaves should be collected and burnt.
 Four sprayings at 1days interval with wet table Sulphur 0.3 per cent or Dinocap 0.07
per cent or Carbendazim 0.1 per cent controls the disease effectively.
 Spraying with Phalton 0.3 per cent + Carbendzim 0.1% also controls the disease.
Spraying with benomyl 0.1 per cent or triademefon (bayleton) 0.1 per cent at 3days
interval controls the disease.
 Some of the resistant varieties are aawliver, abhisarika, Adolf morstman, African star,
Barbara etc.

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  Excess fertilization especially with nitrogenous fertilizers and crowding of plants
should be avoided.
2. LEAF SPOT
Casual Organism Mycosphaerella fragariae.
Symptoms
 Leaf spot is most frequently evident on the blades of the leaflets, but may appear on the
petioles, fruit, and fruit stems.
 The lesions may be seen first on the upper surface as small, deep-purple, somewhat
indefinite areas.
 As the spot enlarges, the central area becomes brown, but soon turns to a definite white
spot in older leaves or to a light brown in young tender leaves.
 An indefinite dark purple zone surrounds the central light area, giving the whole a birds-
eyes effect.
 When the infections are bunched on the leaf, the purplish area may become confluent
and extend around a number of the white spots, and if the infection is near the edge of
the leaflet, the purpling often extends to the border.
 One the undersurface the symptoms are much the same as on the upper, but the coloring
is less intense.
 Here the prominent veins which are touched by any of the spots take on a reddish-
purple color which extends some distance beyond the infected spots.
Management:
 Curing of planting material
 Caprtonbal 13kg/ha soil application
 Copper Oxychloride 0.3% or Carbendazim 0.1%
3. Strawberry Leaf Scorch
Causal Organism : Leptothyrium fragariae
Symptoms
 Leaf scorch lesions may appear not only on the leaf blades but also on the petioles, fruit
pedicels, and on the sepals of the calyx.
 In a very early stage leaf scorch lesions resemble those produced by the leaf spot
organism in that small dark purple spots appear scattered over the upper surface of the
leaflets.
 It is not difficult to distinguish the two after the spots have developed.
 In the mature condition the leaf scorch spots are large and irregular in outline and never
show the white central area characteristic of the leaf spot disease.
 On the contrary, the black fruiting bodies which develop in the central area give the leaf
scorch disease a tar spot appearance.
Disease Cycle.
 Strawberry leaves often survive the winter, and diseased leaves may be found in the
early spring bearing both the perfect and imperfect stages of the leaf scorch organism.
 Ascospores are more important than the conidia in primary infection, since they are
discharged in great numbers during the early spring months when the new leaves are
developing.
 Under suitable moisture conditions the ascospores germinate within 24 hours and
infection takes place by direct penetration of the epidermal cells, in contrast to the
stomatal infection of Mycosphaerella fragariae.
Management:
 Use Healthy planting material
 Avoid creation of un necessary wounds
 Application of fertilizer should be delayed at least 1days

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  spraying with Copper oxychloride 0.3 per cent or defolaton 0.2 per cent or
Chlorothalonil 0.2 per cent
 Use of resistant varieties

4. LeafBlight
Caual organism: Dendrophoma obscurans
Symptoms
 The disease is most conspicuous on the leaves, although at times it appears on the calyx.
 Usually the spots on the single leaflet are limited to one to five or six.
 When first observed, the young spots are uniformly reddish purple and almost circular
in outline. If they are near one of the main veins, the spots are elliptical.
 Later three zones may be normal green of the leaf, a light brown zone about 5 mm
width, and, finally, a dark brown central area 2 to 3 mm in diameter.
 The white central area characteristic of leaf spot is never present.
 If the spots occur on a prominent vein, and especially if on the midrib, the typical V-
shaped lesion is formed, with the purpling of the tissue extending fanlike to the border
of the leaflet.
Management:
 To spray the 1% of mercuric acetate.
5. Cortical Root Rot (Black Root) of Strawberry
Symptoms:
 A plantation affected by root rot presents an uneven patchy appearance due to dwarfing
of the diseased plants and to gaps caused by the complete death of the severely affected
plants.
 It is generally agreed that certain definite concerned.
 Under certain environmental conditions some of these organisms are considered much
more virulent than others.
Management:
 Biological controlTrichoderma viride
 ChemicalCarbendazim 0.1% apray.
6. Grey Mold of Strawberry
Symptoms
 The disease, while regarded as a fruit rot, often starts early in the season as a blossom
blight.
 In the cluster of blossoms on the main fruit stalk, one or more will show a blasted
condition, usually with the disease extending part way down the pedicel.
 Later, as the berries enlarge, the disease may be observed on the tips of the calyx lobes,
often confined to one or two of the lobes.
 Infection on the berries may appear at any point.
 Often the first rot on half-grown fruit appears at the base of the fruit and originates from
the infected calyx.
Causal Organism: Botrytis Cinerea.
Management
 Picking and destroying old blooms and over wintered canes help in reducing the
disease.
 Avoiding excess irrigation helps to check the disease.
 Fungicidal spray with triphenyl tin acetate (Brestan) 0.05 per cent is effective in its
control.
 The disease is effectively controlled by spraying with ferbam 0.2 per cent or capton or
benomyl 0.1 per cent or mancozeb 0.2 per cent

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7. Angular Leaf Spot (Bacterial Blight)
Angular leaf spot or bacterial blight of strawberries is caused by the bacterium
Xanthomonas fragariae. The disease was first reported in Minnesota in 1960, and It
appears to be spreading rapidly to many strawberry-growing areas of the world with
the importation of planting material.
Symptoms
 Typical symptoms of angular leaf spot appear initially as minute, water-soaked lesions
on the lower leaf surface
 These lesions enlarge to become angular spots, usually delineated by small veins.
 An important distinguishing characteristic of this disease is that lesions are translucent
when viewed with transmitted light, but dark green when viewed with reflected light
 Under moist conditions, lesions often have a viscous bacterial exudate on the lower leaf
surface. When it dries, the exudate forms a whitish, scaly film.
 This exudate or film is an additional characteristic that is useful in the identification of
angular leaf spot.
 Lesions may coalesce to cover large portions of the leaf.
 Eventually, lesions become visible on the upper leaf surface as irregular, reddish-brown
spots, which are necrotic and opaque to transmitted light.
 A chlorotic halo may surround the lesion.
 At this stage, symptoms may be difficult to distinguish from those of common leaf spot
and leaf scorch.
 Heavily infected leaves may die, especially if major veins are infected.
 Occasionally, under natural conditions, infection follows the major veins, resulting in
veinal water-soaking that may or may not spread to the interveinal regions.
 Infection by X. fragariae may become systemic.
 The pathogen can infect all plant parts except fruits and roots and, in some cases, even
the fruits have been infected, apparently only in the tissue adjacent to an infected calyx
(fruit cap).
 Calyx infection can be serious. Infected tissues turn black resulting in unattractive fruit
Disease Development
 Inoculum for the primary infection of new growth in the spring comes from infected
dead leaves where the pathogen over wintered.
 X. fragariae may survive for extended periods in dry leaves or in infected leaves buried
in the soil. Spread is primarily from infected leaf debris or infected crowns.
 Bacteria that exude from lesions under high-moisture conditions may provide
secondary inoculum.
 Bacteria may be disseminated to uninfected plants or leaves by splashing water, such
as rain or overhead irrigation.
 X. fragariae gains entrance into host tissue either passively through wounds or actively
as motile cells that swim into natural plant openings by means of drops of dew, gutation
fluid, rain, or irrigation water.
Epidemiology
 Moderate to cool daytime temperatures around 20C,
 low nighttime temperature (near or just below freezing) and
 High relative humidity (92- 97%).
 Long periods of precipitation,
 Sprinkler irrigation to protect plants from freezing, or heavy dews in the spring also
favor the disease.

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  Young leaf tissue or leaves on healthy, vigorous plants are more likely to become
infected than those on diseased or environmentally stressed plants.

Management
 Identification of the disease at the early stage and removal of runners reduces the
disease
 Picking and destroying old blooms and over wintered canes help in reducing the
disease.
 Avoiding excess irrigation helps to check the disease.
 Fungicidal spray copper oxy chloride 0.2% is effective in its control.
 The disease is effectively controlled by spraying with streptocycline 0.05%.

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 19. Disease of Arecanut

S. N.: Areca catechu L.Family: Palmae/ Arecaceae

DISEASES OF ARECA NUT

Major diseases
 1. Mahali disease -Phytophthora meadii (=P. arecae)
 2. Bacterial leaf stripe: Xanthomonas campestris pv. Arecae
 3. Anabe roga (disease): Ganoderma lucidum
 4. Yellow leaf disease: Phytoplasma-like organism
 5. Bud rot - Phytophthora arecae
 6. Stem bleeding -Thielaviopsis paradoxa
 7. Inflorescence die back –Colletotrichum gleosporioides
Minor diseases
 a. Red rust -Cephaleuros sp.
 b. Yellow leaf spot: Fungal complex
 c. Root rot -Fusarium sp.
 d. Leaf blight – Phomopsis palmicola var. arecae

MAHALI/KOLEROGA/FRUIT ROT/NUT ROT

 In areas receiving heavy rain fall, mahali (heavy devastation) or koleroga
(kole=rotting, roga =disease) is most dreaded disease. Butler in 1906 first recorded this
 disease from Mysore. Lesli,C.Coleman (1910’s) who worked extensively on this
disease and developed Management practices to manage the disease which are still
working satisfactorily.
Symptoms:
 Characteristic Symptoms include rotting and excessive shedding of immature nuts form
the trees.
 The first sign of the disease is on the nuts, on which a water soaked lesions usually
develop towards the base. Because of this watery rot, the disease is locally called as
“Neerugole”.
 Later leads to discoloration, discoloration starts browning then leads to deep browning,
later dropping of nuts takes place..
 The fallen nuts show the felty, white mass of mycelium of the fungus which soon
envelops the entire surface. Infected nuts loose their luster. This type of Symptoms with
boost like growth of the fungus , as also locally called as “Busurugole”.
 The disease gradually spreads among the bunch ultimately covering the entire bunch
wherein they rot and shed from the bunches.
 Fruit stalks and rachis of inflorescence are also affected. They are lighter in weight and
deteriorate and are unsuitable for chewing.
 Very often, the top of the affected trees may also dry resulting in withering of leaves
and bunches.
Causal organism – Phytophthora meadii [=P. arecae (Coleman) Peth. (Syn. Phytophthora
palmivora var.arecae)].
Etiology:
 The mycelium is inter or intra cellular, coenocytic but forms septa in older stages.
 Haustoria are finger like, occasionally branched and sparsely produced.
 The sporangiophores are irregularly branched and the sporangia are pyriform to
elliptical.

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  Oospores are the sexual spores and are also act as dormant spores which survive for
about 4-5 years.

Mode of spread and survival:

 Rain and wind plays an important role in the initiation and spread of the disease since
low temperature and high humidity are favorable for the growth of the fungus.
 Intermittent rains with alternative sunshine are more conductive to a rapid spread of the
disease.
 The close plantation of trees and plant grown in valleys gives ideal conditions for
spread. Formation of oospores in the diseased nuts at the end of the season and dormant
mycelia present in cracks and crevices of the tree helps the pathogen to perpetuate from
season to season.
 The fungus also infects potato tubers, apple and cocoa fruits, fruits of citrus nobilis,
Artocarpus incisa and Agave wightii.
Epidemiology:
 The optimum temperature for fungus is 18-22oC
 Relative \Humidity of more 95% is congenial for the development of disease.
 Sporangia of the fungus have best caught in aeroscope slides at a height of 10-11m .
 The fungus infects the nuts readily but not after 6 months old. Heavy rainfall, wind,
low temp ,alternate sunshine and rainfall favours the disease
Management:
 Cleanliness and field sanitation including destruction of diseased tree tops and plant
parts are foremost important in the Management of the disease. Fallen infected nuts
should be collected and burnt/destroyed.
 Spraying with Bordeaux mixture 1.0% is recommended. Vegetable oils from ground
nut, sesame, coconut or sunflower added to Bordeaux mixture before spraying also
protect the palm from this disease.
 Prophylactic spraying with Bordeaux mixture 1% once before the onset of south west
monsoon and a second application 40-45 days later has been recommended with
Metalaxyl MZ (0.2%).
 Cover the fresh bunches after first spray with polythene bags to avoid fresh/further
infection.
 While spraying to the tree, the whole crown region should be covered

BACTERIAL LEAF STRIPE

 Rao and Mohan (1970) reported its occurrence from Tumkur areas of Karnataka state
in an endemic form.
Symptoms:
 The initial Symptoms include 1-4 mm diameter wide, dark green water soaked,
translucent, linear lesions or stripes along side and parallel to the mid rib of the leaf let
of its other main veins.
 The lesions may be developing at any point on the lamina, but more commonly from
the base or towards the tip of the leaf let.
 The margin of the lesions is usually straight and well defined, but occasionally it may
appear wavy.
 The lesions are covered with abundant bacterial exudates on the lower surface. The
exudate is creamy white and slimy.
 On drying, it forms a waxy film or creamy white or yellowish flakes or fine granules
or irregular yellowish masses.

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  In the advanced stages, the lesions may measure 1cm or more wide and several
centimeters long involving the midrib also.
 The affected midrib and veins of the leaflet get discolored and turn black.
 All the leaflets of leaf may be affected resulting in complete or partial blighting of the
leaf and in severe cases the entire crown may be killed particularly in seedlings.
 Infected leaf showing characteristic Symptoms of black stripe on lower and upper
surface
Etiology:
 Xanthomonas campestris pv. arecae (Rao and Mohan) Dye
 It is soil borne, rod shaped, gram negative bacteria, monotrichous, genetic material
DNA , reproduced by binary fusion.
Epidemiology:
 Temperature 26 to 280C, Relative humidity 85-90%, intermittent rainfall, susceptible
host favours the disease.
Mode of spread and survival:
 The bacterium infects arecanut and other ornamental palms.
 The disease remains aggressive during and after the rainy season and it is of little
significance during the hot dry summer months.
 The incidence is high during the months of July October when the average monthly
rainfall is 130mm or more with more than 10 rainy days per month. 3-5 year old palms
are highly susceptible to the disease than the older palms
Management:
Cultural control:
 Early identification and eradication.
 Use healthy planting materials.
 Antibiotics like tetracycline and its formulations are effective as prophylactic and
curative treatments at 500 ppm concentration.
 Stem injection of antibiotics has longer residual effect than foliar spray. Streptocycline
0.05% or copper oxychloride 0.3% spray can also be given

ANABE ROGA/ROOT ROT/ROOT WILT/TANJAVUR WILT/GANODERMA

WILT:
Symptoms:
Above ground:
 Yellowing and browning of outer whorl of leaves. As the disease advances the inner
whorl also exhibit the same symptom.
 Leaves dries at later stage of the disease, droops and hang around the stem.
 The impact is the flowers, and nut size reduction and dropping.
 In severe or advanced stages, drooping of all the leaves and drop off by leaving only
stem with out leaves. Discolouraiton of vascular bundles can be seen
On trunk
 Later stages of the disease, stem bleeding and oozing of gum takes place upto the height
of 5m.
Below ground level on roots
 The roots of the infected plant become brittle, discololur and dry.
 Sporophores and fruiting bodies can be seen on the stem portion at the collar region
mostly after the death of the tree which gives the name “Anabe Roga (Mushroom like)”.
Causal organism; Ganoderma lucidum
Etiology:
 The fungus is heterothallic and weak parasite.

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  Vegetative spores are Chlamydospores.
 Conidia are round, thin walled. Sexual spores are basidiospores
Primary source of innoculum:
 Chlamydospore and dormant mycelia survive in soil, affected roots.
Secondary source of innoculum
 Air borne basidiospores.
Mode of spread and survival;
 It is a soil borne and survives as dormant mycelium, chlamydospores. Secondary spared
through the twisting of infected roots to healthy roots (through soil root).
 The mycelium present in the infected roots transfer to healthy once and thus spread the
disease and spreads also through air.
Epidemiology:
 Neglected plantations
 Sandy loam soils
 High plant population density
 Summer stressed plantations
Management:
Cultural control:
 Fruiting bodies of the fungus and the dead stump and roots should be collected and
burnt.
 Improving drainage facilities, avoiding dense planting of palms and adoption of clean
cultivation of gardens help in checking the disease.
 The fungus infects many plant trees including avenue trees and such host trees should
be avoided in the vicinity of the areca garden.
 The spread of the disease to neighboring trees can be prevented by digging deep
trenches all round the affected palm and applying sulpher. Use drip irrigation during
summer.
Chemical control: Soil drenching with calyxin 10ml/. lit or stem injection.
Biological control: Application of Trichoderma viridae, 100 gram per plant reduces the
disease.

YELLOW LEAF DISEASE

Symptoms:
 Symptoms include yellowing of leaves and shedding of both matured and immature
nuts. Endosperms of diseased nuts are soft, blackish and not suitable for consumption.
 Yellowing at the tips of leaf lets in 2or3 leaves of the outermost whorl is the first visible
symptom.
 Brown, necrotic streaks run parallel to lamina in unfolded leaves, with the development
of leaves, yellowing starts form the tips of leaflets, gradually extending to the middle
of the lamina.
 One or two leaflets in any of the crown or the entire foliage may be affected by the
disease. Tips of the chlorotic leaves eventually dry up.
 In advanced stages, leaves are reduced in size, stiff and pointed, closely bunched and
puckered. Finally the crown falls off leaving of are base trunk.
 Root tips turn dark and gradually rot. Production of lateral root is reduced.
 Affected fruits fall off. Some of the palms exhibiting foliar yellowing may produce
normal nuts and all nuts in the bunch may not show kernel discoloration.
 Blocking of xylem vessels of older leaves of diseased palms, degeneration of cortex
and presence of tyloses in xylem are also noticed in diseased roots.
Causal agent: unknown Etiology

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  Phytoplasma-like organisms.

Management:
 True Mangala seedlings and South Canara variety showed tolerance to this disease. The
hybrid Saigon×mangala yielded max. Number of nuts with minimum disease intensity.
 Palms which received higher dose of potassium and magnesium recorded minimum
disease intensity.
 Chlorotetracyclin hydrochloride (Aureomycin) and tetracycline chloride (achromycin)
through root feeding and stem injection had no ameliorative effect on the disease.

BUD ROT:
Symptoms:
 The fungus Phytophthora palmivora. P meadii causing koleroga in bunches also pass
on to bud and cause rotting.
 The first symptom of the disease is the discoloration of the spindle from the natural
light green color to yellow and then brown.
 Infection spreads to young leaves which rot rapidly. As the infection spreads inside the
bud the growing point of the stem also rots resulting in the death of the palm.
 The spindle slumps and can be drawn out with a gentle pull.
 The outer leaves then become yellow, droop and drop off one by one leaving a bare
stem. Secondary organisms colonize the rotting bud and convert it into a slimy mass
which would emit a foetid smell.
 Causal organism: Phytophthora palmivora
Etiology:
 The mycelia is aseptate, intercellular mycelium & intercellular haustoria.
 Zoospores are the asexual spores borne in sporangia.
 Oospores are the sexual spores borne in oogonium.
 Primary source of innoculum: oospores.
 Secondary source of innoculum: zoospores
Epidemiology:
 This organism require cool weather condition, temperature requirement is 18-20˚ c,
relative humidity is 98-100%, require cloudy weather, intermittent rainfall & high
density plantation. It occurs in sever form in heavy rainfall tracts of Karnataka.
 It generally occurs in monsoon season.
 Fresh infection during November onwards becomes severe during succeeding months.
Management:
 Infected tissues of bud are to be scooped off and treated with Bordeaux paste.
 Destruction and removal of dead palms and also branches affected by mahali and
drenching crowns of surrounding healthy palms with Bordeaux mixture 1% help in
reducing the disease incidence.
 Soil application of Trichoderma reduces the inoculum in soil
STEM BLEEDING
Symptoms:
 Both the young and old plants are affected but young palms are highly susceptible.
Symptoms appear on the basal portions of the stem as small discolored depression
during initial stages.
 Later the spots coalesce and cracks develop on the stem which eventually produces
hollows upto varying depths along the infected portion.

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  Crown of affected adult palms get reduced in size followed by reduction in yield.
Finally a dark brown liquid oozes out from cracks.
 Causal organism: Thielaviopsis paradoxa (de Seyenes) Hohn.
 Primary source of inoculum: Dormant mycelia .
 Secondary source of inoculum: Air borne conidia.
Epidemiology:
 More serious in kharif season , also more serious in case of poor drainage areas.
Management:
 Improving the drainage may help in minimizing the disease incidence.
 Root feeding with proper chemical. Application of hot coal tar or Bordeaux paste is
effective in reducing the disease.
Inflorescence die-back and button shedding:
Symptoms:
 Die back of inflorescence is associated with low fruit set. About 60% of palms in the
state of Karnataka, Kerala are infected by the disease causing severe shedding of
buttons.
 Disease appears on the rachillae of the male flowers, then in the main rachis as
brownish patches which soon spread from tip downwards covering the entire rachis
causing it wilting. The female flowers of the infected rachis are shed.
 The fungus also infects the developing embryo inside the female flowers, which
eventually shrivels up showing a brown discoloration.
 Under severe conditions the fungal infection proceeds from tip downwards producing
the condition known as die-back.
 Concentric rings of light pink coloured conidial mass of the pathogen appear on the
discolored portions of the infected inflorescence.
 Causal organism: Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz.
Etiology:
 Mycelium is septate , asexual spores are conidia borne in acervulus.
 Sexual spores are ascospores borne in Perithecium.
 Primary source of innoculum: Dormant mycelia.
 Secondary source of innoculum: Conidia.
Epidemiology:
 The disease is present throughout the year, but is most serious during the dry period
(Feb-May).
 Temperature requirement is 28-32˚c, & relative humidity of 90-92%,weak host.
Management:
 Summer irrigation
 Recommended N:P:K application/plant.
 Spray Carbendazim 0.1%.

MINOR DISEASES:
a. Red rust:
 Cephaleuros sp. produces circular spots with sunken centers and yellow haloes on the
foliage.
 Lesions are irregular on the stem. Infection destroys the epidermis.
 Causal organism: Cephaleuros sp.the alga,
 It affects photosynthesis, yield reduces & also quality reduces.

Management:
 Early identification & destroy, thereby reducing further infection.

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  Provide proper irrigation & apply recommended N,P,K.
 Trimming with better aeration.
 Spray systemic fungicide Benomyl 1.5g/litre.

b. YELLOW LEAF SPOT

Symptoms:
 Yellow specks measuring 3-10mm diameter appear on the leaves.
 These spots coalesce to form larger lesions surrounded by yellow haloes.
 Advanced stages the seedlings are stunted and in severe cases the seedlings die.
Etiology: Curvularia sp., Colletotrichum sp., Phyllosticta sp., Helminthosporum sp.and
Alternaria tenuis has been reported to cause leaf spot of seedlings
Epidemiology:
 The disease is severe during summer months (Feb-Mar) and continues to infect
seedlings until the onset of rains.
 Seedlings (1- 2.5year old) exposed to the sun are susceptible.
Management:
 Improving drainage both in the nursery and main field and providing shade minimize
the disease.
 Application of heavy doses of manures and spraying with zineb 0.2% or Bordeaux
mixture 1% reduce the disease incidence.
 Fungicides like ziram (0.2%), COC (0.3%) are also effective in checking the spread of
the disease
c. Root rot or collar rot
 The rotting is caused by fungi like Fusarium sp. And Rhizoctonia sp.
 This is usually seen in nurseries with poor drainage.
 The fungi infect roots and cause wilting of seedlings.
 Sometimes bacteria enter the stem through the collar region and rotting of bud also.
 The severity of the disease can be minimized by providing good drainage in the nursery
and drenching the soil with Bordeaux mixture or cheshnut compound.

d. Leaf blight:
 The disease is characterized by reddish brown spots which blight the leaves.
 Later black crusty appearance will form which is little hard.
 Phomopsis palmicola var.arecae has been reported as the causal organism for leaf
blight of seedlings at transplanting stage. This leads to stunted growth.
 Causal organism: Pestalotiopsis palmarum (Cooke), Phomopsis palmicola var. arecae.
 Primary source of innoculum: Dormant mycelia.
 Secondary source of innoculum: Conidia borne in acervulus.
 Spread: Air borne and enter through stomata.
Epidemiology:
 Neglected orchards, summer irrigation, root infection. Poor soil fertility favours the
incidence.
Management:
 It was suggested to apply N and K followed by spraying with Zinep to check the
disease.
 Irrigation should be given properly.
 Weed Management.

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 20. Disease of Coconut

S. N. : Cocos nuciferaFamily : Arecaceae (palm family) Palmae/ Arecaceae

 Coconut is one of the important oilseeds in India. Being a perennial plant grown
extensively as plantations in many states, particularly Kerala and Tamil Nadu, it greatly
influences the economy of the state. There are several varieties of coconut grown all
over the country. The trees come to bear in 4-5 years and continue for about 50-60
years, the peak production period being during 10-40 years after planting. Coconut tree
suffering about 50 fungal pathogens, the most important are described here.
 1.Bud Rot: Phytophthora palmivora
 2.Basal stem end rot: Ganoderma lucidum
 3.Root (wilt) Disease: unknown Etiology
 4.Leaf blight or Grey Leaf Spot: Pestalosia palmivora
1.Bud Rot: Phytophthora palmivora
 This is one of the worst diseases of coconut and is found in many parts of India. It was
first reported in Madras in 1906 by Butler who named the causal organism
Phytophthora palmivora in 1910. It occurs also Brazil, East Africa, british Guiana,
Ceylon, Fiji Island, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines,Trinidad and West Indies.
 In the past this disease had been a limiting factor in palm cultivation. Coconut and toddy
palm suffer badly from bud rot disease caused by Phytophthora palmivora. 30-40%
palm tree are affected due to this disease in a garden.
Bud Rot: Phytophthora palmivora
Symptoms:
 The earlier symptom is the yellowing of heart leaves.
 In the later stages the heart withers and drops down.
 Decay of basal region of the heart leaves
 Infected heart leaves are easily come out with slight pulling.
 Young leaves and shoots are affected by the disease.
 Discoloration of heart leaves, and leaf bases.
 The central expanding leaves turn yellowish green and dry.
 Dark fruit rots and premature loss young nuts.
 The fruit rot starts as brown to black elliptical lesion with as grey centre, mostly from
the stem end.
 The basal tissue of the leaf rots quickly and can be easily separated from the crown.
Within a few days, the infection spreads to older leaves, causing sunken leaf spots
which cover the entire leaf blade spreading both up and down. The spot margins are
irregular and water soaked and when the leaves are unfolded the characteristic irregular
spots are conspicuous on the blade
Disease cycle:
 The pathogen perpetuates in the form of oospores or Chlamydospores, formed late in
diseased tissues in leaf axils and crown. With onset of monsoon rains and favourable
atmospheric temperature the fungus becomes active, producing the cottony mycelium
that infects the tender host tissue. Secondary spread of this pathogen through sporangia
and zoospores which spread rapidly in the through rains water falling on the tree to
cause new infection. Thus fungus multiplies rapidly in its asexual stage, later forming
the sexual oospores and asexual chlamydosporesand rhinoceros beetle (Orycles
rhinoceros).
Favourable condition:
 The disease is closely related with high atmospheric humidity

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  Microclimatic conditions of temperature and moisture at the leaf axil level of palm tree
considerable influence on the disease incidence. A temp. range of 18-20C and relative
humidity of 98-100% in leaf axil of the palm tree are highly conducive for the
development of the disease.
Management
 Remove all the affected tissue of the crown region and crown drenching with Copper
oxychloride 0.25%.
 Spray 0.25% Copper oxychloride on the crown of the neighbouring palms as a
prophylactic measure before the onset of monsoon.
 Spray with Copper oxychloride 0.25% after the onset of Monsoon
2. Basal stem end rot: Ganoderma lucidum
Symptoms:
 Exudation of reddish brown liquid through cracks at the base of the trunk and oozing
spread upward.
 Decaying of tissues at bleeding point
 Drooping of leaves.
 Bracket formation at the base of the trunk.
Management
 Isolation trench around the tree, 4 ft away from the base of the trunk.
 Apply Sulphur dust inside the trench.
 Soil drenching with Bordeaux mixture 1% @ 40lit/tree.
 Trunk injection / root feeding with Calixin 3ml/tree.
 Apply FYM 50kg + neem cake 5kg once in 6 month.
 Raising of green leaf manure and insitu ploughing at the time of flowering
3. Root (wilt) Disease: unknown Etiology
Symptoms
 Tapering of terminal portion of the trunk.
 Reduction of leaf size
 The root(wilt) disease of coconut had become conspicuous in central Kerala, the main
coconut growing state of India, after a severe flood in 1882 when the land was water-
logged for a long period. Now it has spread to over 30% of the coconut growing area
of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is estimated that about 15 million palm trees affected by
the disease and the annual loss amounts to Rs. 300 million. The characteristic
Symptoms of the disease is a slow wilting of the foliage. The earliest Symptoms are
flaccidity and ribbing of leaflets occurs. In rare cases, the yellowing and drying of
intermittent leaves and abnormal shedding of buttons and immature nuts precedes the
flaccidity of leaves. Sterility of pollen and necrosis of spadix also occur. Rotting of
roots is an important feature of the disease. The quality and quantity of coconuts are
adversely affected by the disease.
 In the root rot, the major portion of the root system is destroyed. Many of the main and
lateral roots start drying from the tip backward. In older parts of the root cracks and
lesions may develop. The cortex turns brown and gradually dries.
 Development of system is very slow. The affected plants may survive for 15 years after
the first appearance of the systems. Pre bearing and early-bearing stage of plants is more
susceptible than 15-50 years olds plants. The young plants show rapid development of
Symptoms and succumb within 3-4 years. However, the infection of plants younger
than 4 years is rare.
Pathogen: Virus :Tobacco mosaic virus
Rhizoctonia solani, Botridiplodia theobromae

102
MLOs
 The disease is more common in water-logged poorly aerated, heavy soils.
 In sandy and sandy loam soils.
 Water table is high, water lodging cause accumulation of soluble iron, manganese and
ammonia nitrogen in the root zone which interferes with uptake of major nutrients.
Management:
 The destruction of affected palms in early stage.
 Prevent water lodge condition.
 Improved soil drainages.
 Application 25-50kg farmyard manure with recommended dose of fertilizers along with
2 kg dolomite or 1 kg lime and 500 gm of magnesium sulphate.
 Cut and remove disease advanced, uneconomical palms yielding less than 10 nuts per
palm per year.
 Grow green manure crops - cowpea, sunhemp (Crotalaria juncea), may be sown in
coconut basins during April-May and incorporated during September-October.
 Irrigate coconut palms with at least 250 litre water in a week.
 Adopt suitable inter/mixed cropping in coconut gardens.
 Provide adequate drainage facilities.
4. Leaf blight or Grey Leaf Spot: Pestalosia palmivora
Symptoms
 Minute yellow spots encircled by greyish bands appear on the surface of mature leaves
of the outer whorl.
 Later they become greyish white. These spots coalesce into irregular necrotic patches.
 Complete drying and shrivelling of the leaf blade are common when the infection is
severe.
 Removal of the older 2-3 disease affected leaves and spraying the foliage with 0.25%
Copper oxychloride or 1% Bordeaux Mixture will check the spread of the disease
5. STEM BLEEDING:
 This disease of coconut was first reported in Sri Lanka in 1906. Later, its presence was
reported from India, Malaysia and Philippines. This disease is quite common in South
India.
Symptoms:
 Symptoms developed on the infected stem of coconut.
 On the lower parts of trunk, about 2-3 cm above the soil line, deep reddish brown ooze
is seen, coming out through the cracks, which dries up to form a black crust.
 This ooze is dries and becomes black. The tissue in the affected area rots and turns
yellow. In early stages the infection is localized but since many infections take place at
different points of the stem, they coalesce and affected a large area.
 In newly established plants, the infection spreads very rapidly and there is extensive
decay of internal tissues. This creates a cavity is opened the fluid comes out with some
force. Sometimes, the decay develops from inside stem, without any external
Symptoms.
 In the meantime, however, growth of the infected plants is arrested and the yield
reduced.
 In young trees the final wilt may take place in the course of one year, whereas in old
trees the death may be delayed over a period of 2-3 years.
Causal organism: Ceratocystis paradoxa
 Thielaviopsis paradoxa , family; Ceratostomataceae Order: Sphaeriales, Class:
Pyrenimycetes, Division; Ascomycotina

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  Mycelium of fungus is hyaline or light brown with 3.5 to 7 m. Mycelium produced two
types of condia viz. Macrospores or microcondia and chlamydospors. Macrospores or
microcondia are produced on short lateral conidiophore in chain and are light to brown
in colour. The chlamydospors are obovate to oval, thick-walled and brown.
Perithecium is long, narrow and black.
Disease cycle:
 The fungus survives in the cracks and cavities in the stem in the form of perithecia and
chlamydospores. Secondary spread through water and insects from ooze.
Management:
 Removing the affected area and cleaning the wound with some disinfectant or by using
flame.
 Application of Bordeaux paste or mercurial fungicide or hot charcoal on stem.
6. Tatipaka disease – Phytoplasma
 The disease was first observed during the year 1952 in the village ‘Tatipaka’ of East
 Godavari District. Since then reported from in and around of ‘Razole’ of East Godavari
district.
Symptoms
 Plants between 25 – 60 years are most susceptible
 Development of abnormally large crown with dark green inner leaves and higher yield
 The palms continues to yield for 2-3 years
 Subsequently the crown becomes smaller in size and stem begins to taper The leaves
give a fascinated appearance due to improper unfolding of leaflets
 Leaves turn pale and bend abnormally
 Leaves shed pre-maturely
 Affected tree produces smaller bunches with atrophied barren nuts
 Nuts get atrophied become spongy and round and contain no kernel (Copra).
 Severely damaged palms are barren with sickly crowns and slight tapering trunk
 Such trees never recover but die in few years
Management
 Remove and destroy affected trees
 Avoid using nuts from infected tree for raising seedlings
 Avoid transport of nursery seedlings from infected areas
CADANG- CADANG :
 The name Cadang-Cadang signifies 'dying-dying' from the dialect of Sicol area in
Philippines and reflects the slow but persistent lethal progress of the disease. This is
one of the most serious disease of coconut in this country, which is also locally known
as 'yellow mottle decline'. The slow reaction of the palm is a major problem to combat
the disease. This disease is a slow killer, takes 5 to 8 years to die and thus only older
palms succumb. Young palms affect before yellowing stage, never bearing fruits
Soil :
 This disease incidence is influenced by poor nutritional status and poor soil structure.
It is assumed that this disease is due to certain micro-nutrient deficiency, particularly
copper or toxicity of nickel.
Symptoms :
 The Symptoms and type of spreading have been generally accepted as indicating virus
origin and the involved organism is identified as viroid. The first visible symptom is a
decrease in size of nuts, the fibrous layer becomes thinner and thinner. Irregular yellow
translucent spots appear in the pinnate of young leaves and turn orange-yellow mottling
as the leaves .mature and size and number or spots increase. On the lower surface of
the leaves, a peculiar 'water-soaked' type of spot appears. Young leaves become short,

104
 brittle and frond as a whole become smaller and tend to remain upright position in the
crown. Both male and female flowers become dwarf and the flower production usually
ceases within the second year after appearance of leaf Symptoms. In late stage, the
central fronds become bronze-yellow, main bud dies and falls off, showing crownless.
As the disease progresses, roots are generally detioriate and rotting becomes extensive
Remedial Measures :
 1. Clean culture, cutting and burning of infected palms al e suggested.
 2. Replanting with resistant Dwarf cultivars is desirable.
 3. Good soil Management may suppress this malady.

LETHAL YELLOWING : ( Phytoplasma Like |Organism)

 Lethal yellowing is a pandemic disease of coconut palm which has destroyed thousand
of palms in South Florida earlier and in recent years, this malady is most common in'
Jamaica. 'the rate of spread of 'Lethal Yellowing''. (LY) in Jamaica is similar to that of
LY in Florida (McCoy, 1976). The term 'Lethal Yellowing' was first used my Nutman
et a!., (1955), to denote a specific disease of coconut palms in Jamaica and subsequently
applied to diseases of identical syrnptomology in other countries. Parthasarathy .(1974)
observed mycoplasma-like-organisms (MLO) in phloem tissue by Electron
Microscopic examination.
 Primary source of inoculums- Infected leaf and plants.
 Secondary source of inoculums- Phytoplasma transmitted by bornee leaf hoppers.
Epidemiology:
 Neglected orchard,
 Sucseptable host.
 Summer season,
 High vector population
Control of Lethal Yellowing :
 I. Rapid removal of affected palms will show the apparent rate of disease spread;
 2. Imported Malayan Dwarf palm which is found to be resistant cultivar can be
replanted in diseased gardens.
 3. Stem injection of tetracycline group anti-biotic would suppress Symptoms
development, since mycoplasma are known to be sensitive to tetracycline.
 4. Spreading of insecticides like diazinon or dimethoate biweekly, may reduce the
vector (M. crudus) population substantially and thereby reduce LY to a great extent.
Symptoms :
 The first symptom. of lethal yellowing in mature coconut palms is the premature
dropping of most of the nuts regardless in size. Next symptom is to develop necrosis of
new inflorescence with blackening of tips and most of the male flowers become dead
and thereby no fruit set on such' flower stalks.Next, the lower fronds turn yellow which
spreads gradually to younger leaves. However, yellowed leaves are found turgid and
not flaccid as in case of root (wilt) disease.
 Those leaves become yellow, ultimately turn brown, desiccate and hang down.Finally,
the newly emerged spear leaf collapses and death of the terminal bud occurs and the
top of the palm falls away within 6 months after appearance of the Symptoms. Lethal
Yellowing spreads not only first but it kills rapidly.

105
 21. Disease of Oil Palm
S. N.:Elaeis guineensis family – Arecaceae
1. Anthracnose:Botryodiplodia palmarum
Symptoms
 This disease occurs in the nursery.
 It is recognized by regular or irregular brown to black leaf blotches surrounded by
yellow haloes, which develop along the margin, centre or tip of the leaves.
 It causes heavy seedling loss.
Management
 The disease can be controlled by spraying Mancozeb or Captan at the rate of 200 g/100
litres of water.
 Copper fungicides should not be used because of the extreme susceptibility of oil palm
seedlings to copper burn (scorching).
 Spraying of carbendazim 0.1% .
2. Bud rot
Symptoms:
 At the base of the spear leaf, water soaking appears and progresses under ideal humid
conditions to cause rotting of the basal portion and collapse of the spear. White
mycelium of the fungus/slimy bacterial exudate is noticed in the affected tissues.
Pathogen
 Phytophthora palmivora- Phytophthora bud rot
 Erwinia lathyri- Bacterial bud rot/sudden decline
Epidemiology
 High humidity, low temp.
 Management:
 Frequent monitoring and removal of the affected portion.
 Spraying and drenching with fosetyl-Al/metalaxyl 0.1% before the meristematic
tissues get infected for managing bud rot caused by phytophthora.
 Avoid mulching of basins of palms with oil palm refuse.
 Transmission: Proutista moesta, the derbid plant hopper
3. Upper stem rot
C.O.- Phellinus noxius (Telemorph)
 Thelaviopsis paradoxa (Anamorph)
Symptoms:
 Exudation of gum and stem bleeding at about 50cm from the bole. The crown dose not
show any visible symptoms of the disease. The rotting of the stem is irregular collapses.
Management
 Removal of rotten stem tissues and application of tridemorph (calixin) 0.1% and hot
coal tar.
 Plugging the holes in the bark with a paste made up of sand, cement and insecticides,
so as to strengthen the palm and to enhance mechanical support to prevent collapse.
4. Basal stem rot
C.O.- Ganoderma boninense
 Yellowing of the lower leaves on one side followed by necrosis is the first symptom
of the disease in young palms. The newly emerging leaves are stunted and chlorotic
with necrotic tips.
 On the older palms, skirting of the lower leaves is the main symptom. The bole and
stem tissues show rotting and rotten tissues have narrow dark line or bands. The

106
 affected palms have friable and brittle roots. From the rotten portion of stem, white
button shaped sporophores develop which later expand into bracket- like structures.
 The pathogen is soil borne and remain in soil in crop debris and spread through soil
and colonize the palms through wounds in the roots.
Management:
 All dead palms should be removed and destroyed.
 Taking trenches around rarely infected palms and application of tridemorph (0.1%).
5. Spear rot
C.O.- Phytoplasma
 Palms of the 25 years or below have been found affected by the disease and cause
severe reduction in fruit bunches.
 Symptoms:
 Chlorosis of the inner most whorls of leave, followed by necrosis. Soon the spear
rots, gets shriveled and surrounding leaves die. The affected palms die within a few
years.
Transmission: Proutista moesta the debrid plant hopper
Management: Removal and destruction of affected palms.
6. Leaf spot
C.O.- Curvularia lunata
Symptoms: Small, circular translucent spots develop on the spear and young leaves. They have
a sunken centre and yellow halo and the merging point of two regions are slightly raised and
oily, leaf blighting.
7. Pestalotiopsis leaf spot
C.O.- Pestalotiopsis palmarum
Symptoms:
 Large irregular, orange red lesions are noticed on older leaves with brown centre
and grey margin.
 Management:
 Spraying of carbendazim 0.1%

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 22. Disease of Coffee
S. N.: Coffee ArabicaFamily - Rubiaceae.
 Rust – Hemileia vastatrix
 Brown leaf spot – Cercospora coffeicola
 Damping off / Collar rot – Rhizocotonia solani R.bataticola
 Die back or Anthranose – Collectorichum coffeasum
 Black rot or koleroga – Corticium salmonicolor
1. Rust – Hemileia vastatrix
Symptoms:
 It affects mostly leaves and some time leaves and tender shoots.
 Rust lesions develop as orange yellow spots on lower surface of leaves.
 Later increase in size and cause entire leaf become necrotic.
 yield is reduced
Epidemiology:
 Disease cycle is completed only in the uredial stage. The fungus survives primarily as
mycelium in the living tissues of the host. The uredospores can be dispersed by wind,
rain splashes and possibly by insects. 220 c temp. is the optimum for the disease
development.
Management:
 Collection and destruction of diseased leaves.
 Spraying with Bordeaux mixture 0.5% or COC 0.25% Triadimefon 0.05%, Mancozeb
0.25%
 Use of biological agents viz., Verticillium lecani.
2. Brown leaf spot – Cercospora coffeicola
Symptoms:
 Brown spots with grey centre and brown margin surrounded by yellow halo is
developed.
 The lesion spreads to major leaf area. On berries dark blotches are developed shrink
and drops.
Management:
 Spraying with Bordeaux mixture 0.5%. Or propiconazloe or folicur
3. Damping off / Collar rot – Rhizocotonia solani
Symptoms:
 It caused pre emergence damping off and post emergence damping off.
 In post emergence damping off collar region near soil level is infected leading the
rotting of tissue and death of seedlings.
Management
 Soil drenching with Copper oxychloride 0.25%.or Quintal 50 wp @ 1g/1lit or Nativo
2g/1lit
4. Die back or Anthranose – Collectorichum coffeasum
Symptoms:
 On leaves circular to greyish spots of 2-3 mm in dia.
 On berries small dark coloured sunken spots are formed. Beans become brown. Die
back also occurs.
Management:
 Spraying Mancozeb 0.25%
5. Black rot or koleroga – Corticium salmonicolor

108
Symptoms:
 The most important symptom is dark brown or black decaying leaves, twigs and berries
from which black rot is derived.
 The leaves hang shown by a strong fungal myedial threads can be seen on twigs and
petioles.
 Sclerotia can be seen all over the affected areas. Defoliation and drop occurs.
Management:
 Removal of diseased portions
 Spraying with Bordeaux mixture 1%
6. American leaf spot:
 The disease is serious in Arabica coffee.
Symptoms:
 On leaves, production of white spots later turn yellow to brownish in color. At later
stages, the defoliation may take place and crop yield reduced. Finally plants become
weak and are slowly killed.
 C.O.: Mycena citricolor
Management:
 Maintain aeration in the orchard
 Use balance fertilizers.
 Spraying with propiconazole, B.M. 1%

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 23. Disease of Tea
Scientific name: Camellia sinensisFamily: Theaceae

Diseases of Tea
1. Blister blight of tea- Exobasidium vexans
2. Grey blight- Pestalotia theae
3. Red root- Poria hypolaterica
4. Brown root- Fomes noxius
5. Rootsplitting- Armillaria mellea
6. Black root- Rosellinia arcuata
7. Minor diseases
8. Violet root rot- Sphaerosthica repens
9. Diplodia root- Diplodia sp.
10. Collar canker- Phomopsis theae
11. Wood rot- Hypoxylon serpens
12. Red rust- Cephaleuros parasiticus, C. virescens
1. Root rot diseases
a. Brown root disease: Fomes lamaoensis (Murrill) Sacc. & Trott.
 The disease arises from the decaying slumps of jungle and shade trees that have been
cut and left in the soil It is widely distributed in the tropics occurring in Java, Malaysia,
Sri Lanka, Sumatra, East and West Africa.
 It also attacks a number of other trees like bread fruit, cacao, coffee, rubber, etc.
 The roots of the tea bush are encrusted with a mass of earth and small stones cemented
to the root by the mycelium. When aged, the mycelium acquire a black covering,
sometimes with a brown powdery outer layer.
 Between the bark and the wood, there is usually a thin layer of white or brownish
mycelium.
 The fructification is rarely on cultivated plants killed by this fungus.
 The disease spreads through root contacts.
 This is a faster killer than stump rot and is more common on sandy soils than clayey
soils.
b. Black root disease: Rosellinia arcuata Fetch.
 It is a common disease of tea and occurs in India and Sri Lanka.
 This fungus is believed to originate usually in heaps of dead leaves and found in the top
5.0 to 7.5 cm of the soil especially where there is mere of dead leaves.
 It spreads rapidly in the form of strands attacking the roots of several other plants
besides tea. The black strands closely adhere to the roots as loose cob-webby mass.
 These enter the bark and spread out into star- like sheets of white mycelium and easily
seen after peeling the bark from the larger roots.
 The attack usually begins at the collar region. In older tea bushes it soon forms black
strands closely applied to the root.
 The mycelium penetrates inside and ramifies between the bark and wood. At each point
of entry it divides into number of strands which radiate over the surface of the wood
and form s a white star upto 1.0 cm in dia.
 This has two kinds of fructifications, a conidial stage and a perithecal stage.
 Spread to other parts of the field are brought about by the distribution of conidia by the
wind. The mycelium surrounds the stems at the surface of the soil and kills bark all
round for a length of 7.5 to 10.0 cm.
 Consequently, a swollen ring of tissue is formed round the stem above the dead patch
and similar ring below the latter.

110
  The conidia are borne on short bristle-like stalks.
 The perithecia are black, Spherical bodies about 0.5 to 1.0 mm in dia. They bear asci
which in turn bear ascospores.
 The disease is spread by wind.
c. Red root rot: Poria hypolateritia Berk.
 It occurs in India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
 In India it is noticed in Assam and Tamil Nadu.
 The fungus is confined to the underground parts. When the bark is lifted characteristic,
flat, black rhizomorphs ars exposed
 These strands form branched markings on the surface of the wood.
 The strands vary in colour when fresh pink to brown or black according to age.
 The root has generally a mottled appearance of red and white.
 Plants of one to two years old are killed more rapidly than older bushes^ The mycelium
extends throughout the cortex and wood and may advance some distance up the stem
within the wood.
 The bark is oftened and the wood may be discoloured as bluish black.
 On the bark at the colour region the conidial.
 stage appears in the form of reddish tufts.
 The conidia are of two types, thin and thick walled.
 At a later stage perithecia appear on the bark.
 They are small, dark red bodies, rounded below and drawn into a short conical neck
above. Each contains numerous asci without paraphyses.
 The asci are cyclindrical with a short stalk. They contain eight ascospores.
 The fungus lives as a saprophyte or pieces of fallen woo i of several trees.
 It spreads mostly by the rhizomorphs present in soil.
d. Armillariella root rot: Armillariella mellea.
 It occurs in all temperate areas but is limited to Africa and Asia in the tropics where it
is more predominant in mountain areas, but it is does occur in lowland areas in Central
and West Africa.
 Usually the disease becomes apparent after it has severely damaged the root systems of
bushes when the foliage begins to wilt, turns chlorotic and falls, 'Death of the whole
plant then follows.'
 As the parasite spreads up the roots and reaches the collar region of the plant, the bark
often beneath the bark often cracks.
 Sheets of creamy coloured mycelium occur beneath the bark accompanied by flattened
brown rhizomorphs.
 Rhizomorphs are also found on the outside of roots where they often grow
epiphytotically in advance of infection.
 The characteristic sporophores are usually produced on the collar region of the host in
advanced stages of the diseases? They occur in clumps, are pale brown and mushroom
-shaped.
 Old tree stumps large root pieces or other woody material that has been colonized by
the fungus provide the main sources from which The pathogen invades tea bushes or
other,, perennial crops Rhizomorphs can grow through the soil to reach potential hosts
Basidiospores from the sporophore are able to initiate saprophytic growth which can
colonise wood.
e. Inter root disease: Botryodiplodia theobromae Pat.
 The disease usually appear from six weeks to three months after pruning.
 The roots of a dead bush does not bear any external mycelium.
 In some cases the bark is rough and abnormally thickened.

111
  The mycelium runs within the cells of the plant. The fructifications of the fungus are
minute, black, spherical bodies which are embedded in the bark.
 They are not visible from the exterior. If the bark is slightly shaved, the spheres are cut
across, black circles with a white centre may be seen.
 The fungus enters through the fine rootlets and the fungus attacks the tap root also. Soil
fumigation is the best method to control, though expense.

 It is the most suited method to arrest further spread of the disease in young and high
yielding mature tea bushes.
 Replanting can be done after 12 weeks as against 24 months of rehabilitation following
uprooting of the dead and suspected plants.
 Vapam and metham sodium may be applied into an apparently healthy ring of bushes,
20 to 25 cm away from the collar region of the living plant to avoid phytotoxicity.
Dueofume C.P. (methyl bromide + ethylene dibromide 1:1) which is supplied in 450 g
ca. s is enough to fumigate 526 sq.feet.
 Isolation drenches 120 cm deep and 45 cm wide may be dug around ;he infected bushes
to isolate them and to prevent the spread of disease.
 Lime should be added in the affected patch and also in the trench.
 The shade trees should be pruned to permit more sunlight. Digging up of dead and
infected stumps and bushes and burning them reduce the spread.
 Adequate manuring should be done to keep the bushes in vigorous conditions.
 The dieback branches after pruning may be sprayed with Bordeaux mixture 1.0 per cent
to prevent infection.
2. Blister blight
 This disease was first reported from Assam in 1868, spreading since then to most other
tea growing areas of North and South India.
 It also occurs in Burma, Indonesia, Japan, Malaya, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. Since 1946
it has become severe year after year ir? most tea gardens of South India, causing heavy
damage to the industry.
 The succulent growth of the plants developing after pruning is highly susceptible to
infection. Temperatures above 24°C are fatal to the blisterance and disappearance of
this disease.
Symptoms:
 The first symptom is the appearance of small pale or pinkish spots on the leaves.
 These spots are round from the very beginning and in due course enlarge in size upto
about an inch in diameter.
 Youn g shoots are very much affected.
 On the upper surface of the leaf, the spot becomes light green in colour and depressed
into a shallow cavity while the under side bulges correspondingly forming a blister like
swelling. The lower bulged surface is covered by white growth of the fungus.
 In later stages the blister turns dark brown and shrinks to flattened patch.
 Old leaves of four weeks and above are immune and only young leaves are circular
shape but becomes elongated along the midrib.
 When many blisters occur near the margin or apex and coalesce, much distortion and
curling of the leaf may be caused.
 The infection passes on to petiole and young succulent stem which results in serious
damage. On the stem, spots without blisters are formed.
 The fungus eventually penetrates and damages the stem.
 The leaves, and buds above the point of attack wilt end to wither.
 The leaf yield may be reduced and the vitality of the tea bush is affected finally.

112
  It, is probable that under severe attack, the bush may be permanently injured and the
growth impaired.
Fungus: Exobasidium vexans Massee.
 The mycelium is confined to the blistered areas on the leaves.
 They are septate and collect in bundles below the lower epidermis.
 Later by rupturing the epidermis a continuous layer of vertical hyphae are projected on
the surface of spot.
 The fungus produces two kinds of spores viz., the conidia and basidiospores.
 The conidia are most abundant, borne singly at the tips of long stalks.
 They are hyaline, elliptical, straight or slightly curved and measure 12 to 21 x 4.5 to 6
^ra. Basidia are formed on the surface in larger number but never form a continuous
hytneniurn. They are intermingled with 'conidial stalks and sterile fairs.
 Each basidium is long, club shaped with usually two short sterigmata at the end , each
bearing a basidiospore.
 The basidia are ovate to oblong, hyaline and 30 to 90 x 2.3 to 4.5Mm.
Mode of spread and survival:
 The fungus completes its life cycle in 11 to 28 days and several generations of spores
are produced in a season.
 It produces conidia and basidiospores in the same blister.
 Spores are air-borne.
 The perpetuation of the fungus appears to be from the pre-existing infected bushes.
 No dormant or resting stage is known.
Epidemiology:
 Relative humidity plays an important role in the epidemics of blister blight.
 If the relative humidity is below 80 per cent for 5 days, the rate of infection decreases.
 If it is above 83 per cent for 7 to
 10 days, the infection is moderate to serious.
 The disease is favoured by cool day and nights , with wet or humid conditions.
 More severe outbreaks occur under shade or adjacent to jungle or v/ind breaks or in
damp low lying areas where mist persists.
 The succulent growth of the plants developing after pruning is highly susceptible to
infection. Temperatures above 24 °C are fatal to the blister blight disease, a fact which
account for the periodical appearance and disappearance of this disease.

Management:
 Removal of affected leaves and shoots by pruning aim destruction of the same have
been recommended.
 Spraying the bushes with Bordeaux mixture or copper oxychloride is found to be
effective. Copper fungicides have been widely used often in combination with nickel
salts which have a slight eradicant effect.
 A mixture of 210 g of copper oxychloride + 210 g of nickel chloride per ha sprayed at
5 days interval from June to September and 11 days intervals in Oct-Nov gives
economic control.
 Spraying the bushes with 420 g of copper oxychloride and 27 g of Agrimycin 100 per
hectare gives better control over the disease, compared to the treatment with copper
oxychloride alone at the same dosage.
 Among the organic fungicides, chlorothalonil gives protectant and therapeutic effect.
Triademorph, Mancozeb, Baycor, Bayleton and Pyracarbolid offer good disease
control.

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  Disease control achieved with triademorph at 340 and 560 ml /ha is satisfactory under
mild and moderate rainfall conditions.
 Spraying schedule can be regulated according to weather conditions.
 Dry leaves are less prone to infection than damp ones and exposure to the sun for only
one hour at a temperature of 29.5 °C is lethal.
 The formula recommended is that spraying can be suspended until the average daily
hour of sunshine for the previous five days has dropped below 3 3/4 h.
 Spraying with the systemic fungicide, (Atemi 50 SL) at 400 ml/ha or bitertanol 300
EC (Baycor 300 EC) at 340 ml/ha at weekly intervals controls the blister blight
effectively.
3. Grey blight
 It occurs in North and South India. In South India it occurs in Karnataka, Kerala and
TamilNadu. Apart from India it has been reported from Java and Sri Lanka.
Symptoms:
 The disease appears as minute brownish spots on older leaves which soon turn grey.
 The "spots are mostly irregular and several of them may coalesce to form irregular grey
patches. The spots have fine concentric lines.
 Fructifications of the fungus appear as black dots in older spots on the upper surface.
 The fungus infects plucking points and causes die-back. Generally grey blight attacks
older leaves of the tea plant.
 If young leaf is affected, the leaves are blackened and frequently the attack takes place
even before the leaf is unfolded.
 It sometimes attacks the ends of plucked shoot and kills them back for a short distance
and repetition of this process have been known to result in the production of a bush of
dead shoots.
Fungus: Pestalotia theae Sawada
Mode of spread and survival: The conidia wind borne
Epidemiology:
 The incidence is more frequent on wet bushes especially if potassium is deficient.
 The infection is also predisposed by sun scorch, insect puncture and plucking wounds.
Management:
 Copper oxychloride 0.3% or Bordeaux mixture 1.0 per cent may be sprayed twice, once
in cold weather and again in April or May to check the disease
4. Black rot
Symptoms :
Small dark brown irregular spots appear on leaf| They coalesce to produce a dark brown
patch which eventually covers the whole leaf and drop off| Before the leaf turns black
the lower surface assumes a white powdery appearance.
Fungi : Corticium invasum Fetch and C. theae Bernard
Mode of spread and survival: Basidiospores carried by workers.
 The disease develops rapidly when temperature is high and air is humid.
 At the beginning of rainfall they germinate and produce which start fresh infection.
Epidemiology: Occur in nursery shaded with Crotalaria,'Bosidiospores germinate only in wet
weather or when leaves are covered with dew.
Management:
 Prune in December end, remove the prunings immediately, burn after drying.
 Collect all dead and dried leaves. Spray a copper fungicide in third week of April.
5. Red rust
 The trivival name of this disease is a misnomer.

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  The cell contents of the genus, Cephaleuros are orange red, hence the misapplication
of the name rust.
 The disease is widespread and important in India, Sri Lanka, Africa and America.
 It attacks all kinds of tea both young and old when vitality is impaired.
 It is occurring on tea in many parts of India.
Symptoms
 The leaf infection can be seen throughout the year in an acute condition while the stem
infection escapes except at certain periods.
 The leaf infection of red rust does little damage but it is important in that it serves as a
source of stem infection.
 The alga occurs as orange yellow, roughly ciruclar patches on the upper surface of the
leaf. The patches may "be few or numerous, crowded or scattered and may occupy any
part of the leaf. They are rare on the petiole.
 Under favourable conditions the alga penetrates the leaf tissues
 The penetrating filaments may extend laterally between epidermis and adjacent layers
and also downwards between palisade cells.
 The filaments never penetrate leaf cells but get nourishment by osmosis.
 The host cells in contact get killed and their contents turn brown and dry up Ultimately
the alga itself ceases to grow, cells die and a crater-like depression is left surrounded
by an elevated ring.
 On the stem the pathogen occurs as red hairy patches
 The new shoots arising from infected wood show lack of vigour or even cease to grow
prematurely.
 As a result of infection the host bark is removed in successive layers and where this
fails, the parasite penetrates deeper, into the cortex and may ultimately cause the death
of the shoot.
Causal agent: Ceplaleuros mycoidea Karst, Red rust also attacks Tephrosia sp. and
Desmodium gyroides grown as green manure and shade. ".
Epidemiology: Rainy season is best suited for propagation of alga.
Management:
 The algal parasite may be tackled in two ways.
 The first one is achieved by the removal of all infected portions by spraying Bordeaux
mixture.
 The other approach is by increasing the vigour of the bushes since it is considered that
there is a direct connection between lack of vitality of the bush and the virulence of the
disease.
 Improving the nutrient status of the soil by application of nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium fertilizers is important.
 Destruction of affected plant parts should be done.

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 24. Disease of Cocoa
S. N.:Theobroma cacao, Family-Malvaceae,
 Black pod rot: Phytophthora palmivora
 Charcoal pod rot: Botryodiplodia theobromae
 Colletotrichum pod rot: Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
 Pink disease: Pellicularia salmonicolor
 Monilia Pod rot: Monilia roreri
 Swollen shoot of cocoa: virus
 Red mottle : virus
1. Black pod rot: Phytophthora palmivora
Symptoms:
 The pods are susceptible to the attack at all the stages of development. The most
obvious Symptoms of the disease is its effect on pods. This enlarges concentrically and
evenly to involve the whole pod surface.
 The affected area quickly darkens and the whole pod turns dark brown to black.
 The penetration into the pod is slow and the beans in a mature pod may remain partly
or even fully unaffected. sporangia are formed over the affected area, which gives a
white coating over the fruit surface.
 When the pod is completely invaded, the fungus grows down the stalk and invades the
flower cushions.
Management :
 Spray 1 % Bordeaux Mixture immediately after the onset of the south-west monsoon
and there after at least twice during the monsoon season at an interval of 45 days.
 Removal of infected pods
 Over crowding of trees and thick shade should be avoided

2. Charcoal pod rot: Botryodiplodia theobromae

Symptoms:
 The Symptoms initially appear as pale yellow spots originating mainly from the stalk
end or at the tip of the pod.
 As the disease advances, the' spots enlarge into larger lesions having a chocolate brown
colour. In most cases the entire pod is involved.
 The affected pods turn black and remain on the tree as mummified fruit. Young pods
when infected are mummified and shrivelled.
 The internal tissues are rotten and the affected beans turn black. Spores appear in
masses.
 Infection takes place through wounds. Infected pods dry up and mostly remain attached
to the plant.
 Insects like mealy bugs and tea mosquitoes cause injury to cocoa pods which facilitate
infection by the fungus.
Management:
 Remove all affected pods
 Spray Bordeaux Mixture (1%) or Difolatan (0.3%)
 Measures to control insects and rodent pests will also help in reducing the incidence
3. Colletotrichum pod rot: Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
Symptoms:
 The rotting commences anywhere on the pod surface. In young pods it starts more
commonly either at the stalk end of the pod or at the tips and spread rapidly all over the
surface.

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  Infection initiates on the surface of the pods as small brownish round spots with yellow
halo. The affected regions become darker and form depressed lessions.
 The tissue underneath the lesions are brown which extend upto the beans inside. In
mature pods, the browning is restricted to the upper fleshy tissues only.
 In advanced stages, the lesions coalesce to form large, discoloured irregular areas.
 A greyish mycelia growth can be seen one week after infection. The medium size pods
are highly susceptible.
 The infected pods are shrivelled remain as mummified structures on the tree.
Management:
 Spray Difolatan @ 0.2 %
4. Pink disease: Pellicularia salmonicolor
Symptoms:
 It is characterized by the presence of a 'pinkish powdery coating on the stem.
 It causes wilting of shoots, shedding of shoots, shedding of leaves and finally
defoliation and drying up of the branches.
 The disease persists from season to season through dormant mycelium inside the bark
and in the cankerous tissues.
Management:
 Pruning the affected branches and swabbing the cut ends with Bordeaux paste.
 The disease can be prevented by spraying regularly with 1 % Bordeaux mixture.

5. Monilia Pod rot: Monilia roreri

Symptoms:
 The infection may not be evident at first, since the infection proceeds internally at first
affecting the bean.
 In young pods the first outward Symptoms is a slight white lesion. When such pods are
cut open white mycelial strands of the organism can be seen.
 In mature pods no outward signs of attack are evident except a few dark spots, covered
by whitish growth of the organism.
 A diseased pod is heavier than a healthy one of the same size and is more difficult to
open.
 The affected pods are worthless and the internal necrotic area produce conidia of the
organism.
Management:
 Remove all infected pods and destroy them.
 Spray the pods with wettable sulphur or zineb preparations
6. Swollen shoot of cocoa: virus
Symptoms:
 A number of strains of the virus is known to attack cocoa and cause the disease. The
Symptoms also vary according to the strain of the virus involved.
 Symptoms may appear on the stem, roots, foliage and pods. The typical Symptoms are
swelling of the branches and twigs.
 Swellings also occur on the roots.
 On young leaves, there is outlining of veins by a narrow red band. The Symptoms on
the pods are uncommon, but light and dark green mottling has been observed.
 Affected pods are smaller than healthy ones and may contain only half the normal
quantity of beans.
Epidemiology

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  Cocoa swollen shoot virus is transmitted by mealy bugs, over a dozen species of mealy
bugs are known to be capable of transmitting the virus but two species Planococcoides
njalensis and Planococus citri are the common ones.
 The young mealy bugs can become infective after feeding on a diseased tree for only
one and a half hour but infectivity increases with further feeding and they can remain
infective for 24 to 48hours after feeding ceases.
Management:
 Destruction of infected plants
 Parasitising mealy bugs with Aspergillus parasiticus
7. Red mottle virus: Virus
Symptoms:
 The disease is diagnosed by the presence of red pigment along the side of the main
veins of young leaves.
 Leaf crinkling and tip scorch occur and the pods become mottled, but no swellings are
seen on branches.
 The rate of spread of the disease is rapid.
 The insect vectors are: Pseudococus citri, P. breripes.
Management:
 Cutting diseased trees
 Control of vectors by spraying systemic insecticides
 Eradication of alternative hosts .

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 25. Disease of Cashew
S. N. -Anacardium occidentaleFamily – Anacardiaceae

 Die – back or Pink disease: Corticium salmonicolor

 Damping off: Phytophthora palmivora
 Anthracnose: Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
 Inflorescence blight: Colletotrichum mangiferae and Phomopsis anacardii
 Shoot rot and leaf fall : Phytophthora nicotianae var. nicotianae
1. Die – back or Pink disease: Corticium salmonicolor
Symptoms:
 It is a very common disease of cashew, often assuming great importance during the
south-west monsoon period
 Whitish or pinkish growth of the fungus can be seen on the affected branches.
 The fungus penetrates into the deeper tissues and causes the death of the shoots from
the tip downwards and hence the name dieback.
 After heavy rains a film of silky thread of the fungus is seen on the branches.
 In advanced stages, the bark splits and peels off. Some times only one branch is
affected, but often many branches turn yellow and shed giving a barren appearance to
a portion of the tree
Management:
 Prune the affected branches well below the site of infection and destroy them.
 Protect the cut surfaces by applying Bordeaux paste.
 If disease is severe, it is advisable to spray Bordeaux mixture (I %).
 Spraying is to be done twice, once in. May-June and the second during October.
 Collect all dried up and affected branches to reduce the source of inoculum.
2. Damping off: Phytophthora palmivora
Symptoms:
 The Disease occurs in nurseries where drainage conditions are poor.
 The organisms attack the roots or collar region of "seedlings or both the regions and
cause their death. when seedlings are infected by Phytophthora palmivora, they become
pale.
 Water-soaked lesions can be observed at the collar region which turn dark and girdles
the stem.
 The seedlings droop and ultimately the plants die.
 On leaves, water-soaked lesions can be observed in severe cases. These lesions enlarge
and coalesce, often covering the entire leaf lamina.
 All the organisms in combination or alone may cause the disease.
Management :
 Provide adequate drainage in the beds and polythene bags.
 Drench the beds/bags with 0.1 % Agallol or 1 % Bordeaux mixture.
 Inflorescence blight : Colletotrichum mangiferae and Phomopsis anacardii
Symptoms:
 This is also a common disease in Kerala especially during the monsoon period.
 The characteristic symptom is the drying of floral branches. The Symptoms appear as
minute water soaked lesions on the main rachis and secondary rachis.
 The lesions are pinkish brown, enlarge and soon turn scabby. Gummy exudates can be
seen at the affected regions.
 The lesions develop into bigger patches and result in drying up of the inflorescences.
The incidence is very severe when cloudy weather prevails.

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Management :
 A combination spray of a fungicide (Cuman L 100 ml in 100 litres of water or Blitox
250 g) and an insecticide Dimecron (30 ml in 10 litres) is recommended.
 It is often claimed that the primary cause of the disease is the tea mosquito and fungi
are only secondary organisms.
4. Shoot rot and leaf fall : P. nicotianae var. nicotianae
Symptoms:
 During the south west monsoon months of June - August extensive leaf fall and shoot
rot Symptoms are observed.
 Black elongate lesions are first developed on the stem with exudation of gum. Later,
infection spreads up and down, causing the tender stem to collapse and tender leaves to
shrivel up.
 The lower mature leaves are also infected with black elongated lesions on mid rib,
which later spread to the main lateral veins and the leaf blade.
 The infected leaves are soon shed.
Management:
 Spraying with Bordeaux mixture (l %) before the onset of monsoon will check the
spread of the disease

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 26. Diseases of Aonla
S. N.: Emblica officinalis Family :Euphorbiaceae and sub-family:Phyllanthoidae.
1. Rust
C. O.:Ravenelia emblicae Styd,
Phakopsora phyllanthi Diet)
Symptoms
 Disease is responsible for considerable losses in major aonla growing area of Uttar
Pradesh.
 On fruits initially few black pustules appear which later develop in a ring.
 The pustules join together and cover big area of the fruit.
 On leaves, pinkish brown pustules develop which may be arranged in group or
scattered as infection of fruit does not go on leaves and vice-versa..
 Teleospores of Ravenelia emblicae causes the fruit and leaf infection.
Management
 Three sprays of wettable sulphur (0.4%) of Dithane- Z-78 (0.2%) during July
September.
 Cultivars Banarasi and Chakaiya are believed to be relatively free from disease.
2. Wilt (Frost injury)
Symptoms
 Large number of plants shows cracking, bark splitting, defoliation and wilting
symptoms.
 The main reason for wilting though was attributed due to frost injury, but association
of Fusarium sp. was also found.
 As frost injury predisposes plants to fungal infection, proper protection from frost is
required.
Management
 During winter (November to January) young plants should be covered during frost
period with sufficient irrigation which protects plants from the frost injury.
 Mulching with available organic waste/black polythene.
 Cow dung pasting on tree trunk have been found quite effective in minimizing the
frost injury.
3. Sooty mould
C. O.: Capnodium sp.
Symptoms
 Sooty mould causes velvety covering of black fungal growth on the surface of leaves,
twigs and flower.
 These are restricted only to the surface and do not penetrate into leaves.
Management
 Spray starch @2%, lambda cyhalothrin @0.05% and wettable sulphur @0.2% can be
mixed in starch if infection is more.
4. Lichen:
C. O.: Strigula elegans (Fee.) Mull. Arg.
Symptoms
 Lichens are found on the surface of trunk of the grown up trees.
 It is seen in the form of whitish, pinkish, superficial patches of different shapes on the
main trunk and branches of the tree.
Management

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  Gunny rubbing, followed by spraying of trunk and branches with commercial caustic
soda (1%) before on set of rains.
5. Blue mould
C. O. :Penicillium citrinum
Symptoms
 It causes brown patches and water-soaked areas on the fruit surface.
 As the disease progresses, three different types of colours develop in succession, i.e.,
first bright yellow, then purple-brown and finally bluish green.
 There is exudation of drops of yellowish liquid on the fruit surface.
 The fruits emit a bad odour. The entire fruit finally gives a bluish-green postulated or
beaded appearance.
Management
 Careful handing of fruits. Any injury on the fruit surface during harvesting and
 storage make the aonla fruits prone to blue mould
 Avoid bruising or injury to fruits while harvesting.
 Sanitary conditions in storage should be maintained.
 Treatment of fruits with borax or sodium chloride (1%) checks the blue mouldinfection.
 Treatment with carbendazim or thiophanate methyl 0.1% after harvest.
 Fruits smeared with mentha oil, checks the rot.
6. Anthracnose:
C. O. : Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
state of Glomerella cingulata (Ston.) Spauld and Schrenk.]
Symptoms:
 Disease appears on leaf let and fruit during August- September.
 Initial symptom of the disease is in the form of minute, circular, brown to grey spots
with yellowish margin on leaflets.
 The central area of the spot remains grayish raised with dot like fruiting bodies.
 On fruits, the depressed lesions are formed, which later turn dark in the centre forming
acervuli often arranged in rings.
 The lesion may vary in size and shape with spore masses appearing on fruiting bodies
at high humidity.
 Consequently the fruits become shriveled and rot. The disease is favoured by hot and
humid weather.
Management
 Sanitation of orchard
 Discard affected fruits from the orchard
 Spray carbendazim (0.1%) before harvesting of fruits.
7. Soft rot:
C. O. : Phomopsis phyllanthi Punith
Symptoms:
 Disease normally appears in November & December. Smoke brown to black round
lesions develop within 2-3 days of infection.
 The diseased parts later show olive brown discoloration with water soaked areas
extending toward both the ends of fruits forming an eye shaped appearance.
 The shape of the fruit is also deformed. Infected fruits become dark brown and crinkled
with softening of underlining tissues.
 Although fungus causes infection both in young and mature fruits, but mature fruits are
found to be more susceptible.
Management
 Treatment of fruits with Difolatan (0.15%) or Dithane M-45 or Bavistin (0.1%)

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  during the month of November.
 Avoid injury to fruits.
8. Black Soft Rot
C. O. : Syncephalastrum racemosum
Symptoms:
 Black Soft rot was noticed on harvested and stored (20 ± 5 0 C and 65 ± 5% relative
humidity) fruits.
 These fruits had numerous, minute brown necrotic lesions showing white mycelial
growth.
 A pronounced halo of water-soaked, faded tissue surrounded the lesion between the
fringe of mycelium and healthy tissue.
 The rotted surface was covered with a black, powdery layer of spores.
 Pre injured fruits are prone to infection.
Management
 Avoid fruit injury, during harvesting.
 Discard infected fruits from the orchard.
 Spray Dithane M-45 (0.2%) or carbendazim (0.1%) before harvest.
9. Fruit rot:
C. O.: Phoma putaminum Speg.
Symptoms
 The rot starts as a small pinkish brown necrotic spot which extends towards both
the ends of the fruits forming eye shaped appearance.
 In severe cases lesions coalesce forming a bigger pustule.
 The mature lesions are dark brown in colour and severely infected fruits show
wrinkling. The underlying tissues in the rotted fruits become soft.
 Fruits completely rot within 15 days.
 Fungus is seen to be present in the dropped fruit of local variety as well as on fruits
attached to the lower branches of high yielding varieties viz. Chakaiya and
Banarasi.
Management
 Avoid fruit injury, during harvesting.
 Discard affected fruits from the orchard.
 Spray Dithane M-45 (0.2%) or carbendazin (0.1%) during fruiting season.
10. Fruit rot:
C. O.: Nigrospora sphaerica (Sacc.) Massan and
Dry fruit rot: Cladosporium tenuissimum Cooke, C. cladosporioides (Fries) de
Vries
Symptoms
 The disease starts as colorless areas, slightly soft and subsequently progresses in a
circular manner.
 Light brown mycelial growth of the fungus is evident on infected areas.
 The diameters of the lesions vary from 14.0 to 1.5 cm.
 Injury is prerequisite for infection.
 In C. cladosporioides, the rot shows dark brown necrotic lesions.
 Slight growth of the organism appears in necrotic cavity.
 The severity of infection is seen only in matured and ripe fruits but sometimes
freshly harvested fruits also show infection.
Management
 Avoid fruit injury, during harvesting.
 Discard affected fruits from the orchard.

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  Spray Dithane M-45 (0.2%) or carbendazim (0.1%) during fruiting season.
11. Fruit rot:
C.O.:Pestalotia cruenta Syd.
Symptoms
 The spots on the fruits are mostly irregular and brown in colour.
 The disease usually starts as a brownish discolouration on the fruit surface, which
develops slowly.
 Later the spots become mummy brown and skin around them develops light brown.
 At a relatively later stage the infected region becomes covered with fluffy aerial
growth of the fungus.
 The internal parts of the diseased fruit show a dry dark brown area.
Management
 One spraying of carbendazim (0.1%) should be done 15 days prior to fruit harvest.
 Harvesting should be done very carefully to avoid any injury to the fruits.
 Fruits should be stored in clean containers.
 Full sanitary measures should be adopted during storage and transit.
 Sanitary conditions in storage should be maintained.
12. Fruit rot-
C. O.: Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler
Symptoms
 The rot starts as a small brownish spherical necrotic spot which increases in circular
fashion with the development of the disease.
 In advance stage, the spots become dark brown to black and neighbouring spots
coalesce.
 The central portions of the infected tissues become soft and pulpy.
Management
 One spraying of carbendazim (0.1%) should be done 15 days prior to fruit harvest.
 Harvesting should be done very carefully to avoid any injury to the fruits.
 Fruits should be stored in clean containers.
 Full sanitary measures should be adopted during storage and transit.
 Sanitary conditions in storage should be maintained.
 Treatment of fruits with borax (0.5%) or sodium chloride (1%) checks the fruit
rots.
13. Internal necrosis
(Physiological)
Symptoms
 The symptom starts with the browning of the innermost part of mesocarpic tissue
at the time of endocarp hardening and extends towards the epicarp resulting into
brownish black appearance of the flesh.
 In case of severe incidence, these black spots become corky and gummy pockets
develop.

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 27. Disease of Dateplam
S. N.: Phoenix dactylifera; Family: Arecaceae
1. Bayoud disease
C. O.: Fusarium oxysporum
Symptoms
 Leaflets of mature leaves becoming chlorotic at the base on one side.
 Leaf death progressively to the leaf tip.
 Brown or white lesions on underside of leaves.
Etiology
 Soil-borne disease; currently restricted to Morocco and Algeria where it can be
devastating; the popularity of susceptible cultivars means it has a massive potential to
continue to spread
Management
 Cultural control is not recommended for the control of the disease as conditions which
favor high yield of dates also favors growth of the fungus.
 If disease is confirmed then infected tree should be uprooted and burned to prevent
spread.
 Soil should be treated with methyl bromide or chloropicrin and the area closed off.
2. Black scorch disease
C. O.: Ceratocystis paradoxa
Symptoms
 Dark brown-black, hard lesions on leaves; foliage with scorched appearance
Etiology
 Palms may recover from disease; fungi can enter through pruning wounds
Management
 Prune out infected fronds, leaf bases and inflorescenses and burn the material
immediately.
 Pruning wounds should be protected by spraying with Bordeaux mixture
3. Diplodia disease
C. O.: Diplodia phoenicum
Symptoms
 Death of suckers either while still attached to mother or after planting
Etiology
 Fungus usually enters through cutting or pruning wounds
Management
 Disinfect all tools and equipment regularly.
 Protect pruning wounds and cuts with Bordeaux mixture or other appropriate copper
based fungicides
4. Graphiola leaf spot
C. O.: Graphiola phoenicis
Symptoms
 Small spots on both sides of leaves; yellow spore masses on leaves; black crater-like
lesions on leaves
Etiology
 Disease emergence favored by high humidity
Management
 Infected leaves should be pruned out and destroyed.
 Disease can be controlled by sprays of Bordeaux mixture or other appropriate broad
spectrum fungicide

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 5. Khamedj disease
C. O.: Mauginiella scattae
Symptoms
 Brown or rust colored area on unopened spathes; partial or complete distruction of
flowers
Etiology
 Disease emergence favored by hot, humid conditions in neglected plantations
Management
 Good sanitation practices and maintenance of the plantation helps to control the disease
 Infected spathes and inflorescences should be removed and burned.
 Diseased palms should be treated with Bordeaux mixture or appropriate copper based
fungicide after harvest and approximately 1 month before emergence of spathes.
Other Disease
1. Lethal yellowing
C. O.: phytoplasma
Symptoms
 Fronds drying out and turning gray-brown; growing tip rotting and turning into a slimy
mass with foul smell; crown collapses from trunk leaving a naked trunk
Etiology
 Disease is transmitted by planthoppers
Management
 Disease severity can be reduced by injecting the antibiotic oxy tetracycline HCl into
the trunk.
 Antibiotics can also be administered as a protective measure if the disease is known to
be in the area; control of the disease long term relies on planting resistant or tolerant
varieties.

******
28. Disease of Rubber
S. N. :Hevea brasiliensisfamily - Euphorbiaceae.

 Abnormal leaf fall – Phytophthora palmivora& P. nicotianae var. parasitica

 Secondary leaf fall – Colletotrichum acutatum, C. gloeosporioides
 Birds eye spot – Drechslera heveae (Helminthosporium heveae)
 Corynespora leaf spot – Corynespora cossicola
 Pink disease – Corticium salmonicolor
 Powdery mildew – Oidium heveae
 Brown root diseases - Fomes noxius
1. Abnormal leaf fall – Phytophthora palmivora& P. nicotianae var. parasitica
Symptoms:
 It occurs during June – August, while general leaf fall occurs during December.
 On leaves dull grey, circular spots appear which enlarge and become irregular.
 The petiole exhibit sunken spot. Leaves shed prematurely either green or after
turning coppery red.
 The affected leaf form a thick carpet of rotting foliage which emits bad smell.
 Bronze discoloration of the young foliage.

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  On young stem water soaked areas appear which spread rapidly.
 Oozing of latex from infected pods is the characteristic symptom.
Epidemiology
 The pathogen survives as chlamydospores, zoospores and as dormant mycelia on
the infected pods/ plant parts.
 Disease is favoured by high and prolonged rainfall, high soil moisture and low temp
(20-28c).
Management:
 Remove and destruction of infected plant parts.
 Prophylactic sprays prior to onset of south west monsoon with Bordeaux mixture
1%. Addition of ZnSo4 @ 0.2% improves the efficacy.
 Pre monsoon low volume application of copper in oil using mini micron sprayers
from ground or aerial application.
2. Secondary leaf fall – Colletotrichum acutatum, C. gloeosporioides
Symptoms:
 On tip of the tender leaves, numerous minute circular brown spots appear on leaves
which turn into grey spots with brown margin
 The spots coalesces and dry up. Leaves crinkle and shed prematurely. Green pods which
are affected become rotted.
 Die back symptoms.
Management:

 Spraying with 1% Bordeaux mixture

 Use disease tolerant clones, PB 217, PB 260
 Spraying with copper fungicides, mancozeb (0.2%) or carbendazim (0.1%)
3. Birds eye spot – Drechslera heveae (Helminthosporium heveae)
Symptoms:
 Circular spots with grey centre and with brown border occur in large number in
nursery or on young plants in the field
Management:
 Spray with 1% Bordeaux mixture or Propiconazole 1ml/1l

4. Corynespora leaf spot – Corynespora cossicola

Symptoms:
 Circular spots with brown or papery centre and with a dark brown ring appear on
the young leaves.
 An yellow hallo develop around the ring. Shot holes occur. Affected leaves dries
up.
5. Pink disease – Corticium salmonicolor
Symptoms: The disease affects 3-12 years old trees.
 Prevalent in wet areas. Young twigs and branches are mostly affected. The fork
region of the branches shows longitudinal cracks through which white or pinkish
cobweb like mycelium emerges and later develops into pinkish encrustation.
Rotting, drying up and cracking of the bark.
 The fungal growth encircles the stem penetrate the bark and cortical tissues which
eventually decay.
 The bark splits and peals off. If the infection not recognized early the tree is killed
after the rainy season.
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  Continuous rain, high RH and excessive shade favour disease.
Management:
 Affected parts should be pruned and burn and pasting with Bordeaux paste or
painting tar.
 Copper fungicides should not be used in rubber because they will be contaminated
in latex.
6. Powdery mildew – Oidium heveae
Symptoms:
 White powdery fungal growth appears on young leaves and also on matured leaves.
 Infected leaves curl, crinkle, roll inwards and fall off leaving the petiole attached to
the tree giving a broom stick appearance.
 The infected flowers and tender fruits shed.
 Characteristic translucent brownish spots develop on the leaf lets which later
becomes necrotic and persist throughout the life.
 On the older leaves, white patches causing necrotic spots, infected tender fruits and
flowers are shed.
Epidemiology
 Optimum temp.- 23 to 25 with a 90% RH.
 Pathogen survive from one season to the next season on young leaves. Secondary
spread through air borne conidia.
Management:
 Dusting with sulphur (11 to 14 kg 325 mesh/ha) 3-5 spray at 15 days interval.
 Carbendazim 0.1% or Tridemorph 1.5% dusting alternated with sulphur dust 70%
 Carbendazim +wettable sulphur and microsul (52% EC) is also effective.
7. Brown root diseases - Fomes noxius
Symptoms:
 The affected roots are encrusted with mass of soil and small stones held by net
work of mycelium.
 The affected tap root becomes rotted and the entire tree is killed.

Management:
 Removal and destruction of the infected trees.
 Apply lime @ 2.5t/ha
 In the area of dead tree apply additional dose of lime @ 25 kg/ dead tree.
 Wash the partially affected root with Emisan or Aretan 0.1%.
8. Leaf and seedling blight and wilt
Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. vasinfectum
Etiology and Symptoms:
 In culture, cottony whitish to yellowish, conidiophores simple and branching.
 Macro conidia several-celled slightly curved or bent at the pointed ends, multi septate
(3-7), pointed ends, typically canoeshaped,hyaline, measuring 25-50 x 4-6 mm under
100x.
 Clusters of single-celled micro conidia in chains are also abundant.
 It infects both budded rubber and seedlings in nurseries and trees in plantations.
 Early symptom shows the presence of irregular, brown lesions, which later enlarge.
 As the diseases progresses, the infected leaf eventually withers and a pinkish, shiny,
cottony growth is evident on the infected area beneath the leaf surface.
 In young budded seedlings the pathogen causes seedling/shoot tip blight.

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Management
 Drench the nursery with Bordeaux mixture 1% and use the same spray mixture for
seedlings also.
9. Seedling blight, black stripe, and stem canker Phytophthora palmivora Butler
Symptoms:
 Seedling blight caused by Phytophthora palmivora is noticeable especially during rainy
season under nursery condition.
 Typical symptom of seedling blight show the leaf blades with few blotches that soon
enlarge and coalesce.
 In severe cases, yellowing with defoliation will happen and eventually dieback takes
place.
 Phytophthora leaf blight indicated by the chlorosis at leaf margin with eventually
advances until a brown colored lesion develop and becomes water soaked. It is more
commonly observed in field plantations.
 Black stripe, stem canker and bark splitting also frequently occur in rubber plantations.
 The typical symptoms of black stripe are sunken with slightly discolored areas on the
tapping panel.
 Later, vertical fissures appear in the renewing bark; when these are removed, dark
vertical lines are visible; presence of discolored or black lines in the tapping cut;
clogging of the latex flow resulting to massive spilling of latex; cause uneven renewal
resulting to burns and depressions on the tapping panel. For stem canker, the sunken
canker is the best diagnostic symptom.
 As the cankers become older, they become brown with a shredded appearance.
 In bark splitting or cracking, there is a massive spilling of latex and when scraped,
pinkish to reddish discoloration is observed.
 Reddish discoloration is observed that becomes black at a later stage.
 In the matured trees, the pathogen causes dropping of prematured leaves leading to
defoliation and the disease also called as ’Phytophthora leaf fall’.
Etiology
 This fungus belongs to the Phylum Oomycota, Family Pythiaceae grows abundantly on
V-8 agar.
 The colonies are white, aerial, and cottony in culture.
 The sporangia are characterized by lemon-shaped and doubled papillate structures
which measure from 34.5 – 57.5 x27.5 -49.0 mm under 100x and oospores with 22 - 28
mm.
Management
 Prophylactic spray with Bordeaux mixture 1%
 Zinc sulphate 0.2%
10. Seedling blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn
Symptom:
 This disease infects mostly the seedlings.
 Symptoms start from the tip of the leaf with a chlorotic lesion. Mycelial growth of the
fungus are easily seen at the lower or underside part of the leaves.
 Seedling blight of rubber caused by a complex of possibly R. solani (hyphal strands
below right) associated with the presence of nematodes inside infected stem of budded
rubber seedling. Discoloration and rotting of vascular tissue can also be noticed.
Management
 Seed treatment with carbendazm 2g\kg seed
 Give drenching spray with carbendazim 0.1%

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 29. Disease of Betel Vine
Scientific name: Piper betleFamily: Piperaceae

1. LEAF ROT :Phytophthora parasitica f. piperina (Dastur)

2. PYTHIUM FOOT –ROT: Pythium vexans (De Bary)
3. LEAF SPOT: Colletotrichum capsici (Petch)
4. POWDERY MILDEW: Oidium piperis (Uppal, Kamat and Patel)
5. BACTERIAL LEAF BLIGHT: Pseudomonas betlicola (Patel, Kulakarni and Dhande)
6. FUSARIUM WILT: Fusarium oxysporum (Scchlecht)
7. ROOT-KNOT DISEASE: Meloidogyne incognita

LEAF ROT:
Causal Organism: Phytophthora parasitica var.piperrina
 P. nicotianae var. parasitica f. piperina (Dastur)
Symptoms:
 Symptoms appears only during the rains when both temperature and atmospheric
humidity are highly & favorable.
 On leaves:
 The first Symptoms of the disease are the development of a brown to blackish and then
it becomes soft & deliquescent in appearance under the continuous humid condition.
 As when disease advance spot rapidly increase in diameter under moist condition and
extends to the major part of the leaf causing a soft rot.
 The rot may extend to the petiole & in some cases to the stem also.
 On the lower side of the infected leaf in wet conditions a white cottony growth appears
at the light colored margins of the spots as well as this white growth is due to sporangia
& sporangiophores of the fungus coming out through stomata disintegrated lower
epidermis.
 If wet conditions are not continuous and if rain lasts only for a day or two with
intervening dry warm periods the diseased areas develop concentric
 zones of development due to alternate favorable and unfavorable periods of growth.
 One or more than one spots may be found on a leaf at any position in the plant may be
attacked but those within 2-3 feet of the ground level are more commonly affected than
others leaves.
 It also infect root system and causes root rot or wilt.
Epidemiology:
 The Sporangia develops only at 20-310C when relative humidity is of 100%.
Etiology:
 Mycelia is aseptate, zoospore are borne in sporangia.
 Oospores are sexual spores borne in Oogonium.
 Primary source of inoculum: Oospores
 Secondary source of inoculum: Zoospores
MANAGEMENT:
 Cuttings for plantation purposes should be obtained from healthy orchards. All the
affected parts of the plant should be carefully cut and destroyed.
 Spraying the foliage with fungicides before and during rains gives effective protection.
Leaves can be harvested only ten days after any spray.
 Affected vines are dipped in 1% Bordeaux mixture, sprayed twice a month. Also
spraying of 1.5% concentration of Azadirachta indica (Neem) extracts

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PYTHIUM FOOT ROT
 Causal organisms:
 Pythium vexans (de Bary)
 P. piperinum (Dastur)
 P. splendens var. hawaianum
Symptoms:
 Affected Plants droop, the upper succulent parts of the vines wilt as if from want of
water.
 The green parts then turn pale yellow & later brown, the leaves shrivel and of the plant
dies. The basal part is rotten & can be easily pulled; out owing to the destruction of the
roots.
 The Symptoms and control measures of the foot-rot disease caused by the species of
Pythium and Phytophthora are more or less similar and have been described under
foot-rot due to Phytophthora parasitica f.sp. piperina
Etiology:
 The fungi are having septate mycelia with Inter & intracellular haustoria’s.
 Sexual spores are the ascospores borne in ascus and the asexual spores are Conidia
borne in sporangia.
 They mainly survives as a dormant mycelia and spread as an air and soil borne conidia.
 Primary source of inoculum: oospores borne in oogonia
 Secondary source of inoculum: zoospores borne in sporangium
 Spread: Air borne and Soil borne zoospores
Epidemiology:
 The fungi required high soil moisture and the soil temp of 22 to 240c avoid low lying
area and reduce the planting density for the proper penetration of light to reduce the
inoculums load.
Management:
 Use of non–nitrogenous manures, e.g. Bone meal or super phosphate, judicious use of
irrigation water & admission of sufficient sunlight.
 Control of the diseases can be accomplished by applying Bordeaux mixture 1% to the
infested soil.
 Dipping the cuttings in Bordeaux mixture 0.5% for 1 hour before planting could
effectively control the disease. Chaurasia suggested foliar spray of
tetracycline@500ppm concentration to control the foot rot caused by Pythium sp. (may
not work satisfactorily

LEAF SPOT
 Causal Organism: Colletotrichum capsici (Petch)
Symptoms
 On Leaves: the leaf spot is irregular in shape & size, light to dark brown surrounded by
diffused chlorotic yellow hallow marginal leaf tissues becomes black, necrotic
&gradually spreads towards the leaf centre.
 Occasionally diffused yellow, halo also develops in the anthracnose stage circular,
black lesions that occur rapidly increase in size and girdle the stem culminating in the
death of the vine.
 Fungus produces the asexual fruiting body Acervulus. Then fungi move to the spike on
individual plants
Etiology:
 The fungi are having septate mycelia with inter and intracellular haustoria.

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  Sexual spores are the ascospores borne in ascus and the asexual spores are Conidia
borne in sporangia.
 They mainly survives as a Dormant mycelia and spread as a air and soil borne conidia.
 Primary source of inoculum: Ascospores borne in ascus and chlamydospores. Sexual
fruiting body is perithecia
 Secondary source of inoculum: Air and soil borne conidia
 Spread: Air borne and soil borne conidia
Epidemiology:
 The fungi are a required Temp of 30-320C, and relative humidity of 90-95%and the
susceptible host
MANAGEMENT:
 At initial stage, affected leaves, spikes should be collected and destroyed. Early
identification of the disease and spray with carbendazim ).1% or Companion (0.2%) is
found to be effective.
 Low nitrogen application with increased potassium make the plants resistance to this
disease. Application of Trichoderma viridae to the soil along with FYM. Destruction
of dead, refuse and spraying the plants with Bordeaux mixture 0.5%. Cuttings for
planting should be taken from diseased free vines.

POWDERY MILDEW:
 Causal organism: Oidium piperis (Uppal, Kamat and Patel)
Symptoms:
 Early leaf infection appears as the formation of circular light grayish white powdery
patches or spot which gradually enlarges soon powdery mass of fungal growth powders
first on the lower surface of the leaf. Under ideal conditions both the leaf surfaces get
covered by the white floury mass of fungal growth.
 This is followed by the yellowing of the leaves & then becoming brittle, resulting in
early leaf falls.
 The growing shoots are also affected in severe cases the whole crop may be
destroyed.Impact is photosynthesis reduces and yield reduces
Control measures:
 Application of wettable sulphur 0.3% is effective in controlling the disease. The control
of powdery mildew by spraying with Bordeaux 0.5% partially controls the disease and
also by the application of 0.5% suspension of colloidal sulphur.
 The spraying of Arsenium album @2000 potency also recommended to control the
Colletotricum leaf spot diseases of piper beetle

BACTERIAL LEAF SPOT:

 Causal Organism: Xanthomonas campestris pv. beticola (Asthana and Mahmud)
Symptoms:
 The first Symptoms of the disease in affected orchards are diminutive
 Pale yellow spots, rapidly turning dark purple appears on a along or between the veins
on either leaf surface.
 The spots in farmer positions are roughly circular or angular while in latter, they are
irregularly elongated or branched like fern leaves.
 Only in case of advanced decay, the lesions are visible on the both surfaces. The
infected leaves gradually turns yellow and falls
Etiology:
 The bacteria are Gram –ve monatrichous, Rod shape, single celled Aerobic Bacteria.
 Primary source of inoculum: Bacterial cells in affected debris

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  Secondary source of inoculum: Air borne bacterial cells
 Spread: Splash borne and air borne
Epidemiology:
 The bacteria require of 30-32oC and relative humidity of 80-85%, Cloudy weather and
intermittent rainfall with a Susceptible hosts.
 The bacteria survives in affected plants and spread through rain splash and air borne
bacterial cells, and enter through wounds are hydathode
Management:
 Neem formulation spray 0.3% during the month of Oct-Nov. This will also reduces the
population of nematode when applied through soil irrigation water,
 Control the diseases by irrigating the gardens a week before planting with Bordeaux
mixture 1%. Spray streptomycin @ 2000 ppm or neomycin.
 Cut and burn the affected plant parts. Vacitracin @ 2000 ppm & Polymycin @ 1000
ppm effectively controls the leaf spot. Foliar spray of Azadirachta indica extracts @
3.0 %.

BACTERIAL LEAF BLIGHT

 Causal Organism: Pseudomonas betlicola (Patel, Kulakarni and Dhande)
Symptoms:
 Water soaked area appears on the lower surface and yellow halo appears on the
corresponding upper surface.
 Elongated brown spots of variable length appear on the vine in severs infection, stem
canker &large areas of leaf lamina are covered causing blight leaf
Mode of spread:
 It is a Soil borne gram –ve bacteria lopotrichus, they are facultative saprophytes (6-8
months in affected plant roots, debris.). They survive in the infected planting material
as facultative saprophytes.
 Spread irrigation water, Soil borne bacterial cells and enter through wounds.
 Life cycle as same as Xanthomonas campestris.
Management:
 Application of Bordeaux mixture 0.5% OR copper oxy chloride.O.3% effectively
control the disease. Spraying of streptomycin @2000ppm conc. Or tetracycline @
2000ppm conc.

FUSARIUM WILT
 Causal Organism: Fusarium oxysporum (Scchlecht)
Symptoms:
 Initially the crop shows the Symptoms like yellowing. After the vine is going to
severally infested and turns brown color.
 Then start browning of leafs and drying of vines and ultimately going to died.
Etiology:
 The pathogen produces Chlamydospores as a vegetative resting structure.
 The fungi survive as chlamydospores borne terminally or intercalary and spread
through air borne Micro and Macro conidia.
Management:
 Application of Bordeaux mixture 0.5% is effective to control the disease.
 Foliar spray of Azadirachta indica leaf extracts @3.0% conc. Allium satium clove
extract @ 20% conc. Incorporation of bio-agent, |Trichoderma viridae to soil along
with FYM also manage the disease effectively.

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SCLEROTIUM WILT:
 C.O: Sclorotium rolfsii (Sacc)
Symptoms:
 Beetle vine of all ages are vulnerable to the infection particularly at the collar region.
 White cottony mycelia growth creep over the infected or of the stem and soon much
small mustard like sclerotia appearance in the soil near the collar region of the vine.
 At the stage the vine wilts, dries off and leaves droops. The decay of stem below and at
soil level, where dense, white cottony mycelial mass found at the site of entry and
wilting of the arial organs
 Numerous Sclerotia develop on the rotting stem and the soil around the infected plants.
There is abundance of mycelia out the infected tissue.
 In the host, the mycelium is both inter and intra cellular and destroys the middle lamella
result in soft rot. The plants are susceptible at any stage of their growth.
 The sclerotia are produced in plenty and are responsible for perpetuation and
dissemination of the pathogen.
Etiology:
 Dormant mycelia and sclerotial bodies present in the affected host debris and in soil.
The fungi survival as sclerotial bodies and spread through air borne mycelia strands.
Management:
 Application of mustard oil cake, ammonium sulphate, sodium nitrate and ammonium
phosphate reduce the mortality percentage.
 Earthing up of the vines to cover the sclerotia to a depth of 75 mm to control the disease.
Ploughing to a depth of 22 to30cm also proved equally effective.
 Incorporation of bio-agent, |Trichoderma viridae to soil along with FYM also manage
the disease effectively.

NEMATODE DISEASE
 Causalorganism: Meloidogyne incognita
Symptoms:
 Root-knot disease caused by Meloidogyne incognita and Meloidogyne javanica are the
most common.
 The affected plants show growth reduction and yellowing and abnormal thickening of
leaves with necrosis commencing from the tip and margins of leaf and extending
inwards.
 The disease causes reduction in quality and quantity of leaves, sometimes leading to
serious wilt disease that greatly affect the growth of plants and
 Produce heavy losses to the farmers. Heavy losses due to root knot disease therefore
require chemical method of control.
Management:
 Soil sterilization with 4% formaldehyde .Cultivate the crop with nematode free soil.
 Apply neem cake or oil cakes will reduce the nematode infestation.
 Application of Carbofuran 1.5 kg/ ha of soil.

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 30. Diseases of Senna
S. N.:Cassia angustifolia, family: legumianaceae.
1. Damping off: Rhizoctonia bataticola
2. Leaf spot : Alternaria alternata
3. Leaf spot : Cercospora spp.
4. Leaf blight : Phyllosticta spp.
1) DAMPING OFF: Rhizoctonia bataticola
Symptoms:
Initially water soaked lesions on the collar region of the plant. Brown discoloration then
the epidermal layer collapse.Seedlings topple down.
Etiology:
 Septate mycelia, sub epidermal haustoria
 Asexual spores are absent and Mycelial strands act as a conidia
 Sexual spores: Basidium (Basidiospores)
 Vegetative structure: Sclerotial bodies
Epidemiology:
 Warm weather ,soil temp 280-320 C. Optimum moisture, neutral pH
 Primary Source of Inoculum :sclerotial bodies
 Secondery Source of inoculum: Soil borne mycelial strands
TAXONOMY:
K: Fungi:
D: Deuteromycota:
C: Deuteromycetes:
O: Mycelia sterilia
F: ? G: Rhizoctonia Sp: bataticola
Life cycle:
 It is a Deuteromycetes fungi produces sclerotial bodies, these are like sorghum seed
like vegetative structures, resting structures and long surviving structures.
 When there is congenial conditions these sclerotial bodies germinate penetrate to the
host and causes disease.
 The affected host having mycelial strands again they germinate and cause infection that
how disease cycle continues.
Management:
 Affected debris destruction
 summer ploughing
 Crop rotation
 Soil sterilization
 Biological agent
 Carbendazim 0.1% or Mancozeb 0.2% soil drenching.
2) leaf spot: Alternaria alternata
Symptoms:
 Concentric round spot on the leaves .Spot size increases and covers the entire leaves
leading to blightening of leaves
Etiology:

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  Septate mycelia, either conidia or conidiophores are colored
Epidemiology:
 Nutritionally poor soil,
 temp 28-35 D C, RH 85-90per cent,
 Susceptible host.
Primary Source of Inoculum: Dormant mycelia
Secondery Source of inoculum: Air borne conidia
Life cycle:
 Perithecium present in the affected plant parts serves as a primary source of inoculum.
 Favorable climatic condition it will release ascospores and land on to the host, causes
infection and these are responsible for primary infection
 Conidia are borne on conidiophore on the affected host and release to cause infection
by asexually.
 During adverse climatic conditions the fungi switched on to sexual reproduction where
gametangial contact followed by plasmogamy, karyogamy, mitosis and meiosis takes
place to produce ascospores in pseudothecium.
Taxonomy:
Kingdome: Fungi
Division : Deuteromycota
Class : Deuteromycetes
Order : Moniliales
Family : Dematiaceae
Genus : Alternaria
Species : alternata
Management:
 Collect and destroy affected plant parts
 Increased nutritional status
 Reduce plant population
 Mancozeb 2.0% as aerial spray
3). LEAF SPOT: Cercospora spp.
Symptoms:
 Brown color spots on lower surface of the leaf.
 In severe cases, blightening takes place. Leaf falling. severe in neglected crop.
Etiology:
 Septate mycelia,
 Inter cellular mycelia and intracellular haustoria.
 Asexual spores- whip like conidia on conidiaphores,
 Sexual spores- Ascospores borne in ascus and which are situated in Pseudothecium
 Vegetative structure is dormant mycelia.
Epidemiology:
Temp 30-320C, RH 85-90 per cent, cloudy weather, poor management.
 Primary Source of Inoculum: Dormant mycelia.
 Secondery Source of inoculum: Air borne conidia.
Life cycle:
 Pseudothecium is the primary source of inoculum presenting the affected debris.
 During favourable climate it produces ascospres. and causes primary infection.
 In the affected host whip like conidia are present on conidiophore and cause infection
by asexually.
 During adverse climatic conditions the fungi switched on to sexual reproduction where
male gametangium is antheridium and female is ascagonium.

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  After gametangial contact plasmogamy, karyogamy, mitosis followed by meiosis and
ascospore formation takes place.
Management:
 Collect older leaves and burn.
 Avoid more density of plants.

 Proper nutrient management.

 Mancozeb 2g/lit.
4) leaf blight: Phyllosticta spp.
Symptoms:
 Oval shape water soaked spots on lower surface of leaf. Then moves to upper surface.
 Spot size increases, center portion of spot turns whitish grey color.
 Spots coalesce and blightning takes place.
Taxonomy:
Kingdome: Fungi
Division : Deuteromycota
Class : Deuteromycetes:
Order : Sphaeropsidales
Family : Sphaeropsidacea:
Genus : Phyllosticta
MANAGEMENT:
 Avoid more density of plants.
 Proper nutrient management.
 Bordeaux mixture 0.1% or captafol 0.2% as spray.

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 31. Disease of Neem:
S. N.:Azadirachta indica Family:Meliaceae
LISTS OF DISEASES:
Fungal diseases:
 Powdery Mildew: Oidium azadiractae ( Erysiphae)
 Root rot: Ganoderma lucidum
 Leaf web blight: Rhizoctonia solani
 Leaf spot: Pseudocercospora subsessilis
Bacterial diseases:
 Bacterial wilt: Pseudomonas azadiractae
 Angular leaf spot: Xanthomonas azadiractae
1. POWDERY MILDEW: - Oidium azadiractae ( Erysiphae)
Symptoms:
 Grayish powdery growth on the upper surface of the leaves and the powdery growth
seen on young leaves.
 Leaves wrinkle and defoliate.
 On older mature leaves necrotic patches. Powdery growth on twigs, flower and on fruits
also in severe conditions
 Fruit dropping is the common symptom. Powdery growth reduces the photosynthetic
area, thus reduces the growth and yield drastically
Etiology:
 Septate mycelia, Sub epidermal haustoria.
 Asexual fruiting body: Oidium
 Sexual fruiting body: Cleistothecium
 Primary Sources of Inoculums: Dormant mycelia, Cleistothecium.
 Secondary Sources of Inoculums: Air borne conidia (barrel shaped)
 Survival: Pathogen in the affected debris
Epidemiology:
 warm weather
 Temp. - 28-32°C.
 R.H: 80-85%.
 Cloudy weather.
 Susceptible Host.
Management:
 Avoid dense planting
 Proper nutrient Management ( higher K application)
 Crop rotation with non host crops
 Chemical : Prophylactic spray 3-4 times with wettable sulphur 0.3% or carbendazim
0.1% or calixin 0.15% at 10-15 days interval (aerial spray )
LIFE CYCLE OF POWDERY MILDEW
 Affected plant parts having cliestothium as primary source of inoculum.
 favourable climate, ascospores released from cleistothecium.
 Ascospores fly and land on to the host surface.
 causes infection by producing subepidermal haustoris and the induces powdery mildew
symptom.
 Powdery growth comprising of oidia.
 Oidia releases barrel shaped conidia after maturity and the asexual life cycle continues

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  During adverse climatic conditions the fungi switched on to sexual reproduction where
gametangial contact followed by plasmogamy, karyogamy, meiosis and produces
ascospores, ascus in cleistothecium.

2. Root rot: Ganoderma lucidum

Symptoms:
 Lower leaves yellowing and gradually yellow progresses upward and drooping of
branches take place.
 Later leaves bent or fall down.
 On stem : longitudinal cracking and through this crack gummy oozing Basidiocarp
(mushroom like) formation. Root rotting after the death of the tree.
Etiology:
 Septate mycelia, Inter and intra cellular Haustoria
 Primary Sources of Inoculums: Basidiospores, Chlamydospores (survival)
 Secondary Sources of Inoculums: Dormant mycelia (present in wounded exposed roots)
Epidemiology:
 Warm weather
 Temp. - 30-32°C
 R.H - 80 - 90%.
 Ph - Slightly alkaline
 Susceptible Host
 Root to root contact
 HDP
Management:
 Maintain Proper plant density
 Application of clay soil
 Summer irrigation
 Root feeding with Calixin @ 20 ml/100 ml of water
 Remove and burn severely affected plants
 Apply Trichoderma spp. to the soil
3. Leaf web blight: Rhizoctonia solani
Symptoms:
 Water soaked lesions on the leaf, stem and twigs. Affected leaves are blighted.
 Mycelial growth and dark brown sclerotia are seen on affected parts
Etiology:
 Mycelia spate, binucleate, branched at right angle Club or ovate basidium
 Basidiospores produced on sterigmata. Septa at the base of origin of branches
 Asexual spores - Mycelial strands (act as Conidia, air borne)
 Sexual spores - Absent (Unknown), sometime basidiospores
 Vegetative structures - Sclerotial bodies (Survival)
 Primary Sources of Inoculums - Sclerotia (resting structure)
 Secondary Sources of Inoculums - Mycelial strands (air or water borne)
Taxonomy:
 Kingdom: Fungi.Division: Deuteromycota:
 Class: Deuteromycetes
 Order: Mycelia Sterile: Genus: Rhizoctonia: Species: solani
Epidemiology:
 Temperature: 28-320C
 RH: 65-80%
 Susceptible host

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Management:
 Field sanitation
 Seed treatment with Bavistin @ 1.5 ml/lit.
 Summer ploughing
 Crop rotation with non host crop
 Biological agent –Trichoderma spp.
 Neutralize the soil pH
 Soil drenching with COC 0.3%.
LIFE CYCLE:
 It is a Duteromycetes fungi produces sclerotial bodies these are sorghum seed like
Vegetative and resting structures.
 Congenial conitions sclerotial bodies germinate and produce mycelial strands.
 Mycelial strands act as conidia and causes disease.
4. Leaf spot: C.O: Pseudocercospora subsessilis
Symptoms:
 The leaf spots are first noted on older, fully expanded leaves as brown,subcircular to
irregular lesions with a dark brown border.
 Upon enlargement, leaf spots coalesce to form large, dark-brown necrotic areas
ultimately followed by abscission of the leaves.
Etiology:
 Septate mycelia, inter and intracellular haustoria.
 Primary Sources of Inoculums: Dorment mycelia (affected debries), Ascospores
 Secondary Sources of Inoculums: Air born conidia
 Asexual spores – Conidia (air borne)
 Sexual spores - Ascospores
 Vegetative structure: Mycelial strands
Epidemiology:
 warm weather,
 Temp.: 28-32°C.
 R.H: 85-90%.
 Susceptible Host
 Upper leaf surfaces B) corresponding lower leaf surface
LIFE CYCLE OF LEAF SPOT:
 Affected plant parts having Pseudothecium as primary source of inoculum during
favourable climate this will produce ascus in that ascospores are present because of lack
of pressure inside the ascus they burst open and fly on to air and land on to the host,
causes infection and causes leaf spot of neem .
 In the affected host conidia are present , they produces conidiophore and cause infection
by flight b asexually.
 During adverse climatic conditions the fungi switched on to sexual reproduction where
gametangial contact followed by plasmogamy, karyogamy, mitosis and meiosis takes
place by this inoculum is reproduced .
Management:
 Removal of alternative weed hosts, crop residues around main plot.
 Select healthy planting material.
 Application of less N & more K induces disease resistance.
 Spray systemic insecticide – dimethoate 0.2% or imidacloprid 0.0%..
5. Bacterial diseases:
Bacterial wilt: Pseudomonas azadiractae
Symptoms:

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  The bacteria multiply rapidly inside the water conducting tissue of the plant.
 The results in rapid wilt of plant, while the leaves stay green.
 If an infected stem is cut crosswise, it will look brown and tiny drops of yellowish ooze
may be visible. In severe cases, falling of leaves takes place.
Etiology:
 Gram –ve bacteria, rod shape, white/yellow colonies, non spore forming, facultative
saprophyte, lophotrichous
 Primary Sources of Inoculums: Affected plant debris
 Secondary Sources of Inoculums : Soil and water borne bacterial cells
 Entry: Through wounds
Epidemiology:
 Severe in Sep-Oct
 Temp - 28-320C
 RELATIVE HUMIDITY - 90%
 Neutral pH
 Susceptible host
Management:
 Use healthy planting material and disease free area
 Cut and burn the affected portion
 Regular Pruning reduces the disease
 Maintain NP and increase K application
 Drip irrigation avoids spread of the pathogen
 Chemical: COC 0.3% and Streptocycline 0.05%
6. Angular leaf spot: Xanthomonas azadiractae
Symptoms:
 Initially water soaked angular spots on the leaf, later it turns into pale yellow colour
oily appearance.
 Later death of the cell takes place. Blightening and dry of leaf and defoliation
Etiology:
 Microscopic, unicellular, binary fusion, monotrichous,
 Motile, Gram –ve, rod shape,
 Primary Sources of Inoculums: Affected plant debris (corky area of the leaves)
 Secondary Sources of Inoculums: Rain splash and air borne (spread), bacterial cells
 Entry: through stomata
Management:
 Use healthy planting material and disease free area
 Cut and burn
 Pruning
 Maintain NP and increase K application
 Drip irrigation
 Chemical: COC 0.3% and Streptocycline 0.05%

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 32. Disease of Hemp
S. N.: Cannabis sativaFamily-Cannabaceae
List of diseases of hemp:
 Leaf spot: Cercospora cannabina.
 Wilt: causal organism: Fusarium spp..
 Phyllody: causal organism: Phytoplasma.
1. Leaf spot: Cercospora cannabina
Symptoms:
 On leaves: Characteristic dark brown spots.
 Round to oval an irregular in shape spots enlarge with concentric rings.
 It become necrotic leading to withering & drooping.
Etiology:
 Mycelia: septate. Intercellular mycelia and intracellular haustoria
 Asexual spores: whip like conidia
 Sexual spores:
 Primary source of inoculums: Dormant mycelia.
 Secondary source of inoculums: Air born conidia.
Epidemiology:
 Temperature: 28-300 c
 Relative humidity: 85-90%
 Cloudy weather.
 Susceptible host.
Management:
Cultural:
 Cut the affected leaves.
 Recommended N:P:K
 Drip irrigation.
Chemical:
 Mancozeb 0.25% or Carbendazim 0.1%.
2. Wilt: causal organism: Fusariumspp.
Symptoms:
 External: Older leaves yellowing, upward drooping, leaf epinasty.
 Internal: Brownish black discoloration, blocking of vasicular bundle.
Etiology:
 Mycelia septate, intercellular and produces intracellular haustoria.
 Asexual spores: micro and macro conidia born in sporodochium.
 Sexual spores: ascospores
 Primary source of inoculums: Chlamydospore
 Secondary source of inoculums: micro and macro conidia.
 Spread: through irrigation water, soil.
Epidemiology:
 Temperature: 28-300 c
 Soil: sandy soil.
 Ph: Acidic 5.5-6.5
 Soil moisture: optimum.
Life cycle:
 Perithecium is a sexual fruiting body. It has ascus, when it matures it produces
ascospores.These ascospores flight on the air & by chance factor lands on the host.
 It enters the host through natural openings. It starts infection process.

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  The host shows wilt Symptoms & produces micro and macro conidia & again lands on
the host like asexual life cycle continues.
 If conditions are adverse like high or low Temperature, high or low Relative humidity
it starts sexual life cycle.
 Plasmogamy, hook formation, crosier formation, karyogamy, meosis, mitosis takes
place & produces ascospore. Like sexual life cycle runs.
Management:
Cultural:
 Summer ploughing.
 Soil sterilization.
 Affected plant up root & burn.
 Neutralize the soil PH
 Recommended N:P:K
 Crop rotation.
Chemical:
 Carbendazim 0.1% (Soil drenching)
Biological:
 Apply Trichoderma viridae.
3. Phillody: causal organism: Phytoplasma.
Symptoms:
 Proliferation of floral parts. Adherence of vegetative shoots formed by converted
stamen & carpel.
Etiology:
 It is prokaryotes, pleomorphic, obligate parasite, reproduction by binary fusion.
 Primary source of inoculums: Affected plant
 Secondary source of inoculums: vector.
 Spread: Leaf hopper vector
Epidemiology:
 Temperature: 28-320 c warm weather.
 Relative humidity: 80-85
Management:
 Initial identification & burn.
 Control vectors.
 Spray lannate 0.2%, Indoxicarb 0.2%, Imidacloprid 0.05% at 15 days interval.

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 33. Disease of Belladonna – Atropa belladonna
S. N. :Atropa belladonnaFamily- Solanaceae
Atropa Belladonna (balck or deadly night shade) is a perennial shrub that grows upto
4.5 feet tall with oval leaves, greenish purple flowers and with black globular
berries.Active constituent of Atropa belladonna are atropine hyoscyamine and
scopolamine. Atropa belladonna is used as decoction (tea like), ointment, as smoke
List of Diseases
1.Root rot/wilt: Fusarium solani, Pythium butleri and Phytophthora nicotianae var.
nicotianae
2. Leaf spot: Cercospora atropae
3. Damping off: Pythium ultimum, Rhizoctonia solani and Phytophthora parasitica.
4. Downey mildew: Peronospora spp.
5. Leaf necrosis: Ascochyta atropae
6. Mottlevirus: virus
1. Root rot/wilt: Fusarium solani, Pythium butleri and Phytophthora nicotianae var.
nicotianae
Symptoms of Fusarium solani affected plants:
 All the stages of the Plant are affected.
 In young seedling, the fungus causes pre and post emergence damping off of seedlings.
 Drooping and yellowing of older branches and leaves. In the advance stages, drying of
whole epical portion are also seen..
 The tissue at collar region above and below the soil surface become brown and appear
quite distinct from healthy tissue
 Older plants when affected invariably wilts
Causal Organism : Fusarium solani
 Etiology : Septate mycelia, intravascular
 Vegetative spores :Chlamydospore (resting spores)
 Sexual spores : Ascospore
 Asexual spore :Micro and macro conidia
 Primary Source of Inoculum : Chlamydospores in soil and in crop debris
 Secondary Source of Inoculum :Soil and air borne micro and macro conidia
 Epidemiology :Temp. 30 - 320C, RH:90:92%,acidic pH(5.5:6.5), sandy loam soil,
susceptable host
 Causal Organism :Rhyzoctonia solani
 Etiology : Septate mycelia, sub epidermal haustoria
 Vegetative spores :Sclerotial bodies
 Sexual spores : Absent
 Asexual spore :Mycelial strands(sterile fungi)
 Primary Source of Inoculum :Sclerotial bodiesin soil
 Secondary Source of Inoculum :soil borne Mycelial strands
 Epidemiology :Warm weather,Temp.28–32oC, optimum moisture, succepteble host
Management:
 Destroy affected debries and summer plouging.
 Avoid dence planting.
 Use healthy plot and disease free planting material
 In a nursery fumigation of the soil with methyl bromide and treating the seeds with
Captan @2gm/kg of seeds.
 Crop rotation (after three years crop of belladonna, rotation may be followed by
planting the field) with a crop like rye or wheat.

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Damping off: Pythium ultimum, Pythium debaryanum, Rhizoctinia solani and
Phytophthora parasitica
SYMPTOMS
 Roots of affected seedling or sprouts show water soaked lesion at the base below soil
level and exhibit rotting, reddening, drooping down and falling of leaves.
Causal Organism : Pythium ultimum
 Etiology : Aseptate mycelia intercellular mycelia and intracellular haustoria
 Vegetative structure: Dormant mycelia
 Sexual spores :Oospore
 Asexual spore :Zoosporeand Sprangia
 Primary Source of Inoculum : Oospore
 Secondary Source of Inoculum : Air borne zoospore
 Epidemiology :Cool climate,Temp.18-220C, RH90:95%, susceptiblehost.
 Causal Organism :Rhizoctonia solani
 Etiology : Septate mycelia, sub epidermal haustoria
 Vegetative structure : Sclerotial bodies
 Sexual spores :Absent
 Asexual spore :Mycelial strands(Sterile fungi)
 Primary Source of Inoculum : Sclerotial bodies
 Secondary Source of Inoculum :soil borne Mycelial strandsand sclerotial bodies
Epidemiology:Warm weather,Temp.28-320c, optimum moisture, susceptiblehost,
Neutral pH
Management:
 Use healthy seeds.
 Follow raised bed method.
 Reduce seedling density.
 Application of biological agents (Trichoderma spp.).
 Soil Drenching with mancozeb (0.25%)
2.Cercospora leaf spot
Symptoms:
 Round to angular, brown spots with chestnut colored margins on both side of leaves.
The conidiophores produced on the spots are olive brown and tuft whip like many celled
conidia can be seen on the conidiophores.
 Causal Organism: Cercospora atropa
Etiology: Septate mycelia, Inter and intra cellular haustoria .
 Asexual spore: Conidia
 Sexual spore: Ascospores
 Vegetative structure: Dorment Mycelia
 Primary Source of Inoculum: Dormant Mycelia.
 Secondary Source of Inoculum: Air borne conidia.
Epidemiology:
 Warm weather,30-32°C.
 Relative Humidity 85-90%.
 Poor nutritional Management.
 Susceptible Host
Management:
 Select healthy plot and use healthy planting material.
 Crop rotation with non host crop.
 Application of biological agents (Trichoderma spp.)

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  Spray mancozeb 0.25%.
3.Downy mildew: Peronospora parasitica
Symptoms:
 Initially small dots like structure are seen on the lower surface of leaves that later
developed in to pustules, that further increase in size and produces downy growth.
 In advanced stage the leaves wither away.
 Whitish downy growth consist of enormous amount of sporangiophores, sporangia and
mycelia..
Causal Organism: Peronospora parasitica
Etiology:
 Aseptate mycelia, sporangiophore are at acute angle, inter cellular mycelia and
intracellular haustoria.
 Asexual spores: Zoospores and sporangia.
 Sexual spores: Oospores.
 Primary Source of Inoculum: Oospores present in debris.
 Secondary Source of Inoculum: Zoospores
Epidemiology:
 Temperature 18-220C
 Relative humidity 95-99%
 Susceptible host.
Management:
 Burn the affected debries,
 Crop rotation with non:host crop,
 Proper nutrition Management
 Aerial spray of Copper oxy chloride 0.3%
4 Leaf necrosis: Ascochyta atropae
Symptoms:
 Greyish, white irregular spot with slight depression on the upper surface of leaves.
 The spots coalesce and become necrotic causing defoliation and death of the plants.
Causal Organism: Ascochyta atropae
Etiology:
 Septate inter and intracellular haustoria.
 Asexual spores: Conidia, Vegetative spores (Chlamydospores), Dormant mycelia.
 Sexual spores: Ascospores.
 Primary Source of Inoculum: Dormant mycelia and chlamydospores in soil
 Secondary Source of Inoculum: Air borne Conidia
Epidemiology:
 Cool weather. (Temp. 18-220C )
 Relative Humidity 90-95%
 Poor Management
 Susceptible host.
Management:
 Collect and Burn the affected leaves,
 Avoid high density planting.
 Crop rotation with non:host crop,
 Proper nutrient Management.
 Aerial spray of Mancozeb 0.25%

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5. BELLADONNA MOTTLE VIRUS
Symptoms:
 The characteristics Symptoms are slight clearing of viens and crumpling of the leaves,
followed by a light or dark green mottle, together with blistering and distortion of the
leaves and stunting of the plants.
 Vector are not known.
 Primary Source of Inoculum: Affected planting material, collateral hosts
Management:
 Use disease free seeds
 Destroy the affected plants by burning or burying them deep in the soil.
 Equipments should be washed thoroughly.
 Soil solarization or fumigation with methyl bromide helps to reduce virus spread
through soil.

*******

34. Disease of Pyrethrum

S. N. :Chrysanthemum cinerariaefoliumFamily : Asteraceae
Major diseases
Pyrethrum fusarium wilt : Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.solani
Leaf spot/bloch: Septoria chrysanthemella
Root rot : Sclerotinia minor
Ray blight :Phoma ligulicola var. inoxydablis,
1. Pyrethrum fusarium wilt
Causal organism: Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.solani
Symptoms:
External symptoms:
 Initially the older leaves starts showing yellowing then as disease advance the
yellowing progresses to upper leaves.
 If the organism produces more toxin then leaf margin necrosis takes place.
Internal symtoms
 Infected roots show black to brown discolouration, blocking of the vascular bundle by
the fungal mycelia and chlamydospores, micro and macro conidia leads to drooping of
the plant.
Aetiology:
 Mycelia is septate, inter and intracellular haustoria[absorbing organ].
 Asexual spores are Micro and macro conidia.
 Sexual spores are Ascospores born in ascus present in perithecium where as the
Vegetative spores are Chlamydospores
Primary source of innoculum is Chlamydospores and the infected planting material.
Secondary source of innoculum is Soil borne micro and macro conidia.
Spread: the fungal spores spreads through irrigation
Epidiomology:
 The organism causes disease when temperature is 28-320C
 Relative Humidity 80-90%
 Sandy loam soil
 Acidic pH(5.5-6.5) and

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  Susceptible host, low soil moisture and the affected seed.
Management:
Cultural method
 Summer ploughing is done
 Infected plant should be removed and destroyed
 Use healthy seed and treat the seed with carbendazim 2g\kg of seed
 Neutralize the soil pH by applying lime (200-300g\plant)
 Avoid excess nitrogen application
 Crop rotation with non host plant eg: Graminaceae
 Chemical: Drench the soil with carbendazim 0.1% \
 Growing of resistant variety, KKL-1
2. Leaf spot\blotch: Septoria chrysanthemella
Symptom:
On young leaves
 Initially circular to irregular blackish brown spot on leaves
 later spot surrounded by yellow hallow.
 In severe infestation, the leaves remain small and curling takes place
 The dead leaves hang on the stem for some time
Aetiology:
 Mycelium is septate inter and intrecellular haustoria,
 Sexual spores are Ascospores borne in pseudothecium.
Primary source of inoculumis Ascospores (pseudothecium)
Secondary source of inoculums is pycnidiospores
Mode of spread is infected debris in the soil and rain splash.
Epidemiology:
 The organism requires cool weather with the temperature of 18 to 200 C
 Relative humidity 95 to 99%
 Cloudy weather
 Intermittent rain fall
Management:
 Collect the affected plants and burn.
 Regular Irrigation
 Spraying of systemic fungicide such as carbendazim 0.1%
 Mancozeb 0.25% as aerial spray for effective control.
3 . Root rot: Sclerotinia minor
Symptoms:
 The organism colonize at epidermal layer at collar region of plant, discoloration of
collar region, thinning at collar region leads to girdling
 Then the plant start drooping and drying then finally rotting takes place .
Aetology:
 Mycelia is Septate, sclerotial bodies are vegetative structures strands
 Sexual spores are ascospores borne in apothecium
Epidemiology:
 The organism requires Warm weather condition with temperature of 30-320C
 Relative humidity of 70-80%.
Primary source of inoculums : Sclerotial bodies present in affected debris
Secondary source of inoculum is Mycelial strands.
Management:
 Host destruction
 Crop rotation with graminacea family

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  Low level of N application and increase K application
 Chemical: carbendazim 0.1% as soil drenching
Minor disease
4. Ray Blight Phoma ligulicola var. inoxydablis,
Symptom:
 Necrosis of the ray florets of the flowers
 Distortion of developing stems of pyrethrum plants and necrosis in the growing tips are
symptoms of a severe form of ray blight caused by Phoma ligulicola var. inoxydablis
 Affect all above ground parts of the pyrethrum plant.
 The disease does not affect roots, but the pathogen is able to survive as epiphytic
mycelium around root cuttings
 Etiology: mycelium is septate, asexual spores are pycnidiospores borne in pycnidia.
Management:
 Healthy seed used for sowing
 Crop rotation with graminacea family
 Affected plants cut and burn
 Chemical: carbendazim, 0.1% as soil drenching

******

35. Disease of Camphor

C. O.:Cinnamomum camphoraFamily:Laurels
Diseases of camphor
 1. Powdery mildew: Microsphaera alphifoides (Griff) : Erysiphe cinnamomi
 2. Verticelium wilt: Verticillium spp.
 3. Leaf spot: Pseudomonas spp.
 4. Leaf blight: Alternaria spp. (kuntze: Pers )
1. Powdery mildew
Causal organism: Erysiphe cinnamomi
Symptoms:
 Whitish grey colour powdery growth on upper surface of leaf, powdery growth
enlarges.
 In severe condition, it may move to lower surface.
 Leaf slowly cupping, later leaf dropping takes place.
 Powdery growth on stem. Powdery growth consists of oidia and mycelia strands.
 The stem and petioles in later stages are also affected and are covered with a dirty white
mycelia and oidia.
 With the advancement of the disease, the leaf lamina develops complete or partial
chlorosis and the affected leaves eventually dry up
Etiology:
 Septate, ectophytic mycelia with sub epidermal haustoria.
 Asexual spores are barrel shaped conidia bearing in chains.
 Sexual stage is Ascospores in ascus and the fruiting body is cleistothecium
 PRIMARY SOURCE OF INOCULUM: Dormant mycelia, cleistothecium present in
crop debris.

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  SECONDARY SOURCE OF INOCULUM: Barrel shaped conidia.(Oidia)
 SPREAD: Air borne
Epidemiology:
 The optimum Temperature for the spread of the disease is 28 to 300
 Requires Warm weather.
 This disease is more at the time of September- October months
 Relative humidity required is 80 to 85 %
Management:
 Remove affected plant parts and destroy.
 At early infection stage spray with wettable sulphur -0.3% followed by, spraying with
carbendazim -0.1%t, calixin -0.15%.
 Crop rotation with non-host crop.
 Low nitrogen and increased K application reduces the incidence of disease
2. Verticillium wilt
Causal organism: Verticillium spp.
Symptoms:
 Affected plants are stunted in growth and leaves develop dark green patches followed
by interveinal and marginal yellowing.
 Leaves wilt, dry and eventually fall.
 A brown discoloration can be seen in the xylem vessel on cutting through the stem and
roots .
 Low partial wilt but lower leaf yellowing, V shaped yellowing of leaf margine .No
epinasty but lower leaf drys off.
Etiology:
 Septate mycilia, V shaped conidiospores on which single celled conidia is formed.
 Mode of spread: The fungi survive in the soil on diseased plant debris and infect healthy
plant by contact with root. Furrow irrigation, organic manure and tillage spread the
pathogens.
 Primary Source of Inoculum: Dormant mycelia and chlamydospores in soil and crop
debris.
 Secondary Source of Inoculum: Conidia
Epidemiology:
 Disease spread at the temperature of 28 to290 C. Relative humidity 80 -85 %. Low soil
moisture, alkaline pH, affected soil, susceptible host, black clay soil. Low nitrogen
reduces disease severity.
Management:
 Crop residues should be ploughed deep and clean seeds to be sown.
 Polyethylene mulching reduce wilt effectively .
 Neutralize pH by applying gypsum
 Destroy the affected plant parts by burning.
 Crop rotation with non host crop is to be followed.
 Biological agent such as Tricoderma viridae application.
 CHEMICAL: Carbendazim 0.1% as both soil drench and seedling dip.
3. Leaf spot
causal organism: Pseudomonas spp.
Symptoms:
 Disease affect the aerial part of the plant.
 Spots on the leaflets are water soaked, round, oval or irregular.
 Several such spots may coalesce to produce a blighted appearance.
 No yellowing, healthy plant sudden wilts due to faster spread of the disease.

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  No epinasty. Vascular browning, white or milky white colored oozing are common.
 Complete plant dries up

Etiology:
 Gram –ve bacteria, lopotrichus, rod shaped, unicellular bacteria, reproduction by binary
fusion.
Mode of spread and survival:
 They are present on the plant debries and the seeds.
 Infection usually occurs through leaf stomata .
 Primary Source of Inoculum: Affected self sown crop, soil.
 Secondary source on 151noculums: Soil born bacterial cells through irrigation
water.
Epidemology:
 High humidity that is 85 -92 % and free water facilitate disease development.
 The optimum Temperature for disease development is 24 to 27 0 c.
 High soil moisture is needed with Neutral pH.
 Affected sandy loam and sandy clay soils.
Management:
 Clean seed offer better control.
 Seed treatment with Streptomycin 0.05% is affective.
 Provide good soil drainage, wide row spacing, Host destruction, eradication of weeds.
 Use clay loam soil Crop rotation with non host crop
 Avoid movement of water from infected to healthy area
4. Leaf blight
Causal organism: Alternaria spp.
Symptoms:
 The infection starts with the minute dots on the leaf with irregular chlorotic areas on
the tip portion of the leaves , then circular to oblong concentric black velvety rings
appear in the chloroted area.
 Then the lesions develop towards the base of the leaf. The spot join together and spread
quickly to the entire leaf area leading to blight.
 Sometime a yellow hollow develops around each lesion.
 As disease advances, spot size increases and complete blightening takes place and
leaves gradually die from the tip downward
Mode of spread:
 They spread mainly through air born spores.
 Prophylactic sprays with Mancozeb 0.25% gives good control of the disease.
 Warm weather with humid condition caused by rain or heavy due helps in the spread
of the disease and is favorable for the development of the conidia.
 Primary Source of Inoculum: Dormant mycelia,
 Secondary Source of Inoculum: Air borne conidia.
Epidemology:
 The optimum Temperature for the development of disease is 28 to 320C
 Relative humidity is 85 to 90 %.
 Nutritionally poor soil, Susceptible host favours the disease.
Management:
 Recommended NPK & FYM application.
 Use disease free planting material.
 The disease can be controlled by three foliar sprays with Mancozeb 0.25%.
 Use of biological agents like Trichoderma viridae

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 36. Disease of Costus
S. N. :Costus speciosusFamily: Costaceae
Saussurea costus, commonly known as costus or kuth, is a species of thistle in the genus
Saussurea native to India. Essential oils extracted from the root have been used in traditional
medicine and in perfumes since ancient times.
The plant is cultivated as a medicinal plant. Its growing region occurs mainly within
India-Himachal Pradesh, Jammu-Kashmir- its native place of origin.
It helping to normalize and strengthen digestion, cleanse the body of toxic
accumulations, enhance fertility, and reduce pain. Its dried powder is the principal ingredient
in an ointment for ulcers; it is also a hair wash.
2. Leaf blight
C. O. :Pyricularia grisea
Symptoms
 The disease, as observed in the field, affected only leaves and started as minute scattered
necrotic dots which enlarged, became circular to elliptic and coalesced leadingto blight of
large areas or entire leaves.
Morphology
Morphology of the fungus was as follows: conidiophores hypophyllous, unbranched,
cylindrical, mainly solitary denticulate, sympodial 60–186×4.5–6.5 μm, 1–2 septate, pale
brown, and smooth;conidia obpyriform, with a protuberant hilum, 20.5–37 ×10–13 μm, 2–
septate, smooth, olivaceous brown.
3. Anthracnose:
This disease is caused by the fungi Colletrotrichum and Gloeosporium.
Symptoms
 The leaf tips turn yellow, then tan, then dark brown.
 The browning may extend completely around the leaf.
 The leaves eventually die. Wounding enhances penetration by these fungi.
Management
 Pick off and destroy infected leaves.
 Do not mist leaves.
4. Rhizome rot
It is caused by Phytophthora solani
 Disease develops very fast from July to August, in the rhizomes kept in storage after
the harvest.
 Initially symptoms start from the tip from the injure portion of the rhizomes.
 Subsequently, the rhizome becomes light brown and gives offensive odour.
 Properly harvested rhizomes without injuries can be stored for long time.
 No chemical control has been worked out.
5. Pythium rhizome rot
C. O.:Pythium spinosum.
 In this disease, the infection in the plant starts from injured portion of the rhizomes and
in later stages rhizomes turn into dirty brown in colour, the leaves become yellowish
brown and finally dry off.
 Selection of rhiozmes from the healthy crop and dipping the rhizomes in fungicidal
solutions like Benlate, Bavistin or Dithane-z-78 has been recommended to control the
disease.
6. Leaf blight
C. O.:Curvularia paradisii.

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Symptoms
 The symptoms develop on the leaf lamina as a small, spherical to irregular spots, light
brown in colour, and in advanced stages they become dark brown upward.
 Curling of young leaves towards upward is very common.
 In advanced stages all the leaves fall down leaving bare stem in the field.
It is very severe from July to September.
Management
 This pathogen can be effectively controlled by spraying 0.3 per cent Dithane M-45 at
fortnightly intervals.

********

37. Disease of Crotalaria

S. N.: Crotalaria juncea L.family :Fabaceae
Diseases of Crotalaria
 Fusarium wilt: Fusarium udam
 Stem rot : Sclerotium rolfsii
1. Furasium wilt :
External Symptom :
 It is a fungal Disease.
 Lower leaf yellowing and drooping of apical/arial parts
 On mature plants, brown colored streaks appears on the side of the main shoot with few
white branches while remaining survive.
Internal Symptom :
 Vascular bundle discoloration, later turns to brown to black colour.
 Mycelial strands can be seen in vascular bundles.
Etiology :
 Septate mycelia, intercellular mycelia.
 Asexual spores are Micro and macro conidia, on sporodochium
 Vegetative spores are Chlamedospores (dormant spores)
 Sexual spores are ascospores borne in ascus.
 Primary source of inoculum:- Chlamedospores, dormant mycelia in crop debris and
soil.
 Secondary source of inoculum:- Micro and macro conidia through soil borne and
through irrigation of water
Epidemiology:
 Soil temperature 25-280C,
 Relative humidity 80-85%
 Low soil moisture
 Acidic pH 5. 5 to 6.6
 Susceptible host
Management :
 Use healthy seeds and treatment with Captan. 3 gm/kg of seed.
 Neutralize the soil pH.
 Affected plant parts should be cut and burn.
 Chemical- carbendazim 0.1% for soil drenching.

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  Crop rotation with graminaceous crop like sorghum.
 Biological agent Trichoderma viride application after nutralizing the soil PH
2. Stem rot: Sclerotium rolfsii.
 It is a fungal Disease and soil borne organism.
Symptoms:
 Sclerotial bodies are sorghum like structures then they germinate and multiplies by
producingmycelia.
 It colonises and girdle the seedling after infection.
 Once the epidermis destroys, the stem become yellow and root length reduces.
 Finally the death of plant.
Etiology: Septate mycelia, sclerotial bodies are vegetative structures.
 Asxeual spores: mycelial strands act as a conidia
 Sexual spores: ascospores borne in Apothecium.
 Primary source of inoculum: Sclerotial bodies.
 Secondary source of inoculum: Mycelial strands and through irrigation water.

Epidemiology:
 Warm weather, soil temperature 30-330C, relative humidity 65-70% Susceptible host.
Sandy loam /red soil.
Management:
 Cut and burn affected plant parts.
 In main field provide good drainage to reduce the soil moisture.
 Chemical application soil drenching with Bordeaux mixture 1% or COC 3gm/ltr or
metalaxyl 1.5gm/ltr.
 Biological agent Trichoderma viride.
 Low density planting and follow raised bed method.
 Drip irrigation.
 Reduces N application and increase K application

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 38. Disease of Datura
Botanical name: Datura metol, Datura stramonium Family : Solanaceae
Useful parts: Leaves, flowers and seed
List of Fungal diseases:
1. Wilt of datura : Sclerotium rolfsii
2. Root & Foot rot : Corticium solani
3. Leaf spot : Alternaria tennuissima
Viral diseases:
 Distortion mosaic
 Rugose leaf curl
 Mosaic
 Little leaf of datura caused by phytoplasma
1. LEAF SPOT: C. O.:Alternaria tennuissima
Symptoms:
 Concentric round spot on the leaves.
 Spot size increases and covers the entire leaves.
 Blightening of leaves.
Etiology:
 Septate mycelia, any one of the conidia or conidiophore is colored
 Primary sources of inoculum; Dormant mycelia
 Secandry. Sources of Inoculum: Air borne conidia
 Epidemiology; :
 Nutritionally poor soil, temp 28-35 D C, RH 85-90per cent, susceptible host.
Taxonomy:
 Kingdome: Fungi
 Division: Deuteromycota
 Class: Deuteromycetes
 Order: Moniliales
 Family: Dematiaceae
 Genus: Alternaria
 species: tennuissima
Management:
 Collect and destroy affected plant parts
 Increased nutritional status
 Reduce plant population
 Biological agent
 Mancozeb 0.25% as foliar spray
2. Mosaic:
 Causal organism : Mosaic virus.
Symptoms:
 Young growing leaves & inflorescence shows mosaic Symptoms.
 Leaves become yellow from the veins.
 Later leaves roll & falls off.
 Primary .Sources of Inoculum: Affected planting material.
 Secondary .Sources of Inoculum: Viruliferous vector
Epidemiology:

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  Sevier in summer due to high insect vector population.
Management:
 Removal of alternate weed hosts, crop residues around main plot.
 Select healthy planting material.
 Application of less N and more K induces disease resistance.
 Spray systemic insecticide, dimethoate 0.2%, imidacloprid 0.05%.
3. Wilt : Sclerotium rolfsii
Symptoms;
 The organism colonize at epidermal layer at collar region of plant, discoloration of
collar region, girdling
 Then the plant start drooping and drying then finally rotting takes place.
Etiology:
 Septate mycelia, sclerotial bodies are vegetative, asexual structures and mycelial
strands; sexual spores are ascospores borne on apothecium
Taxonomy:
 Kingdome: Fungi
 Division: Deuteromycota
 Class: Deuteromycetes
 Order: Mycelia Sterilia
 Family: Mycelia Sterilia
 Genus: Scleotium
 species: rolfsii
Epidemiology:
 Warm weather 30-32oC,RH 70-80%,soil moisture
 Primary Sources of Inaculam: Sclerotial bodies present in debris
 Secondry Sources of Inaculam: Mycelial strands
Management:
 Affected debris destruction
 Summer ploughing
 Crop rotation
 Soil sterilization
 Biological agent
 Carbendizim 0.1% or Mancozeb 0.25% as soil drench.
4. Root & Foot rot : Corticium solani
Symptoms:
 On leaves brownish black discoloration. Then completely affected leaves detached
from the stem.
 On root it colonizes and rotting of the roots is the final symptom
 It also colonizes and causes foot rot
Etiology:
 Septate mycelia, sclerotial bodies are vegetative stage asexual spore are mycelial
strands, sexual spores are besidiospores
Epidemiology:
 Cool weather, Temperature 18-22°C,Relative Humidity 75-90%, optimum soil
moisture.
 Primary Sources of Inaculam: Sclerotial bodies present in debris.
 Secondry Sources of Inaculam: Mycelial strands, Basidiospores.
Management:
 Affected debris destruction
 Summer ploughing

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  Crop rotation
 Soil sterilization
 Biological agent
 Carbendizim 0.1% or Mancozeb 0.25% as soil drenching.
4. Little leaf Phytoplasma:
Symptoms:
 The leaf size reduction which is a major symptom
 The number of lveases Internodal length decreases.
 Floral parts converted into foliage parts or leaves.
 Stunting of plants. Vector is leaf hoppers
Etiology:
 primary sources of inoculum: Infected host with weed plants.
 Secondary sources of inoculum: Leaf hopper vectors
Epidemiology:
 Suseptable host
 Favorable environmental condition
Management:
 Cultural :
 Early identification and destruction
 Recomended N.P.K application
 Summer months deep plouing
 Chemicals: Dimethoate 0.2% or Imidacloprid 0.05%.

*******

39. Disease of Dioscorea

Scientific name: Dioscorea floribunda Family: Dioscoreaceae
List of diseases of diascoria
l. Damping off: Pythium spp.
2. Leaf spot: Cercospora dioscoreae.
3. Leaf fall & die back: Colletotrichum sp.
4. Leaf Blight: Glomerella cingulata
5. Tuber Rot: Fusarium sp., Rhizoctonia sp
1. Damping off.
 Causal organism : Pythium spp,
 Pre emergent damping off.
 Post emergent damping off.
Symptoms:
 Pre emergent damping off.
 Tubers or crowns fail to germinate. Rotting of tubers or crowns take place inside
the soil.
 Post emergent damping off. Water soaking lesions on collar region, leading to rotting
and damping off. .
 Stem size reduction. Toppling over of seedlings & death.
Taxonomy:
 Kingdom: Chromista
 Division : Oomycota
 Class : Oomycetes
 Order : : Peronosporales

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  Family : Pythiaceae
 Genius : Pythium.

Etiology:
 Aseptate Mycelia, inter & intracellular haustoria.
 Asexual spores: Zoospores and sporangia
 Sexual Spores: Oospores.
Epidemiology:
 Temperature:18-22◦C.
 RH: 90-95%
 Susceptible host
 Primary source of inoculums: Oospores and dormant mycelia in debris.
 Secondary source of inoculums: Air born zoospores.
Management:
 Use healthy tubers.
 Follow raised bed method.
 Reduce seedling density.
 Application of biological agents.
 Drench c.o.c 3g/l
2. Leaf spot: Causal organism: Cercospora dioscoreae.
Symptoms:
 Numerous irregular angular dark brown to black spots.
 Later the sports move to stem, the spots starts coilasce & blightning take place.
 Later the leaves fall off.
Taxonomy:
 Kingdom: Fungi:
 Division: Deuteromycota
 Class : Deuteromycetes
 Order: Moniliales
 Family: Dematiaceae
 Genus: Cercospora
 Species: dioscoreae.
Etiology:
 Septate mycelia, inter & intra cellular haustoria .
 Asexual spores: Conidia.
 Sexual spores: Ascospores.
 Vegetative structures: Dormant mycelia.
Epidemiology:
 Temp: 30-320C.
 RH > 90%.
 Susceptible host.
Management:
 Proper nutrient Management .
 N-300Kg.
 P-150Kg.
 K-150Kg./ha/yr.
 Crop rotation with non host crop.
 Chemicals:Mancozeb-0.25% as foliar spray
3. Leaf fall & die back: Causal organisms: Colletotrichum sp.
Symptoms:

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  Younger leaves dries up & branches dries from tip downwards.
 In sever cases entire plant may die.

Etiology:
 Septate mycelia, Inter & intracellular haustoria.
 Sexual spores: Ascospores.
 Asexual spores: Conidia
 Primary source of inoculum: Dormant mycelia.
 Secondary source of inoculum: Air & soil borne conidia.
Epidemiology:
 Temp: 30-320C.
 RH: 90-95%.
 Susceptible host.
Management:
 Use healthy planting material.
 Maintain proper spacing: 60X45 cm.
 Cut & burn the affected portion.
 Chemicals: Carbendazim 0.1% as soil drenching.
4. Leaf Blight: Causal organism : Glomerella cingulata
Symptoms:
 Light brown small circular spots on upper surface of leaves.
 Spot size increase &coilage forming reddish brown to black patches.
 Then death of Tissue occurs and Plant dries up.
Etiology:
 septate mycelia ,
 Sexual spores are ascospores borne in ascus , and the asexual spores are air borne
conidia borne in acervulus .
Epidemiology:
 warm weather fungi, with a temperature range of 28-300C ,
 relative humidity 80-85%,
 susceptible host.
Management:
 Aerial spray of carbendazim 1.5g/l, together with treating the tubers with the same.
5. Tuber Rot: Causal organism: Fusarium sp., Rhizoctonia sp.
 Fusarium sp.
Symptoms: Complete loss disease. lower leaves show yellowing. Wilting of plant. Vascular
discoloration.
Etiology:
 Septate mycelia,
 micro& macro conidia ,as asexual spores borne in sporodochium
 Sexual spores are ascospores borne in perithecium .
 Primary source of inoculum : Chlamydospores, affected tubers.
 Secondary source of inoculum : Micro& macro conidia.
Epidemiology:
 Temperature- 28-320C.
 RH - 80-85%.
 Acidic pH - 5.5 to 6.0
 Susceptible host.
Taxonomy:K: Fungi: D: Deuteromycota: C: Deuteromycetes: O: Moniliales:
 F: Tuberculariaceae: G: Fusarium

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Management:
Cultural:
 Summer plouging.
 Soil sterilization.
 Affected plant uproot & burn.
 Neutralize the soil PH
 Recommended N:P:K
 Crop rotation.
Chemical:
 Carbendazim 0.1% (Soil drenching)
Biological:
 Apply Trichoderma viridae.
Symptoms:
 Organism colonizes on collar region.
 Rough cankerous growth on collar region.Girdling of stem..
 Aerial part dries & droops.
Etiology:
 Septate mycelia, inter & intra cellular mycelia.
 Asexual spores: Mycelial strands
Taxonomy:
 Kingdom: Fungi: Division: Deuteromycota: Class:Deuteromycetes: Order: Mycelia
Sterilia: Genus: Rhizoctonia
Epidemiology:
 Temperature: 28-320C.
 RH:65-80%
 Susceptible host.
 Primary source of inoculum: Sclerotial bodies.
 Secondary source of inoculum: Mycelial Strands.
Management:
 Select healthy plot & planting material.
 Tuber treatment with bavistin2g/Kg of tubers.
 Neutralize the soil Ph.
 Application of biological agents – Trichoderma spp.
 Crop rotation with non host crops.
 Drenching with C.O.C.0.3%, carbendazim 0.1%. .

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 40. Disease of Mint

Binomial Name: Mentha sp.Family: Mints

LIST OF DISEASES OF MINT.

 PODERY MILDEW: Erysiphe cichoracearum
 WILT: Verticillium albo-atrum
 RUST: Puccinia menthae
 LEAF SPOT :Curvularia lunata
 LEAF BLIGHT: Alternaria spp
 STOLON ROT: Rhizoctonia bataticola
1. POWDERY MILDEW: C.O: Erysiphe cichoracearum
Symptoms:
 Small chloratic spots appear on the upper surface of leaves.
 The corresponding lower surface showing brownish discolouration prior to the
appearance of powdery patches.
 Later appearance of white /grey colour powdery growth on both upper &lower surface
of leaves It leads to heavy defoliation
TAXONOMY
 K:Fungi
 D: Ascomycota
 C: Ascomycetes
 O: Erysiphales
 F: Erysiphaceae
 G: Erysiphe
 SP: cichoracearum
Etiology:
 External septate mycelia, Haustoria sub epidermal. Septate mycelia produces
conidiophore on which barrel shaped conidia are borne in chains
 Asexual spores : Barrel shaped conidia borne on Oidium.
 Sexual spores : Ascospores borne in Ascus. Asci are situated in Cleistothecium
 Asexual fruiting body: Oidium
 Sexual fruiting body: Cleistothecium.
 Primary Sources of Inoculum: Dormant mycelia and Short period cleistothecium.
 Secondary Sources of Inoculum: Air borne barrel shaped conidia.
Epidemiology:
 Warm weather:
 Temp: 28-32°C.
 R.H: 85-86%.
 Cloudy weather.
 Susceptible Host
Life cycle of powdery mildew life cycle
 Affected plant parts having cliestothium as primary source of inoculum during
favourable climate this will produce ascus in that ascospores are present because of lack
of pressure inside the ascus they burst open and fly on to air and land on to the host,
causes infection and causes powdery mildew of mint.
 In the affected host conidia are present , they produces oidium and cause infection by
flight asexually.

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  During adverse climatic conditions the fungi switched on to sexual reproduction where
gametangial contact followed by plasmogamy, karyogamy, mitosis and meiosis takes
place by this inoculum is reproduced .
Management:
 Crop rotation with non host crops
 Altering the date of sowing
 Proper nutrient Management.
 Avoid dense planting.
Chemical :
 Prophylactic aerial spray- Wettable Sulphur 0.3% or Carbendazim 0.1% or Calyxin
0.15% at 10-15 days interval
2. Rust: Puccinia menthae
Symptom:
 Brown rusty pustules on the lower surface of leave.
 The spots initially circular ,slightly elevated and later Coalesce to form irregular spots.
 Chloratic streaks on the upper surface, telial stage is characterized by swelling on the
upper portion of the stem.
 Defoliation and death of the leaves can be seen in severely affected plants (Leaf
blighting)
Taxonomy:
 Kingdom: Fungi
 Division: Basidiomycota
 Class: Basidiomycetes
 Order: Uredinales
 Family: Pucciniaceae
 Genus:Puccinia
 Species:menthae
Epidemiology:
 Temperature 17-27oC
 RH:90-92%
 Long day hours 1-2 hours dew period in morning
Etiology:
 Septate mycelia, Intercellular mycelia Intracellular haustoria
 Asexual Spores: Uredospores in Uredium
 Sexual spores: Teliospores in Telium
Management:
 Crop rotation with non host crop.
 Spray mancozeb 0.25%.
 Hexaconazol 0.1%
3. LEAF SPOT : Curvularia lunata
Symptoms:
 Small unclear brown spots scattered over the leaf lamina.
 The minute spot increase in size, forming big spherical or irregular patches.
 Severe in neglected crops
EPIDEMIOLOGY:
 Nutritionally poor soil,
 Temp 28-32o C,
 RH 85-90per cent,
 Cloudy weather
 Susceptible host.

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  Primary Sources of Inoculum : Dormant mycelia
 Secondary Sources of Inoculum : Air borne conidia

ETIOLOGY:
 Septate mycelia, inter and intracellular haustoria. any one of the conidia or
conidiophore is coloured
 Asexual spores-Air borne conidia on conidiophore,
 sexual spores- Ascospores
 vegetative structure is dormant mycelia.
Life cycle:
 Affected plant parts having Pseudothecium as primary source of inoculum.
 Favourable climate it will release ascospores they flight on to air and land on to the
host, causes infection and causes leaf spot of senna.
 In the affected host conidia are present, they produces conidiophore and cause infection
by flight b asexually.
 During adverse climatic conditions the fungi switched on to sexual reproduction where
gametangial contact followed by plasmogamy, karyogamy, mitosis and meiosis takes
place by this inoculum is reproduced
MANAGEMENT:
 Collect and destroy affected plant parts
 Increased nutritional status
 Reduce plant population
 Biological agent Trichoderma spp.
 Mancozeb 0.25% as aerial spray
4. LEAF BLIGHT: Alternaria alternata
Symptoms:
 Lower most leaves first infected &disease later develop on upper leaves.
 The infected leaves shows round to oval to irregular or slightly irregular dark brown
spots on the upper surface of the leaves with concentric rings.
 Spot size increases and covers the entire leaves Later Blightening & detaching of leaves
Etiology:
 Septate mycelia, coloured muricate conidia
EPIDEMIOLOGY:
 Nutritionally poor soil, temp 28-32oC, RH 85-90per cent, susceptible host.
 Primary Sources of Inoculum : Dormant mycelia
 Secondary Sources of Inoculum : Air borne conidia
TAXONOMY:
 Kingdom: Fungi
 Division: Deuteromycota
 Class: Deuteromycetes
 Order: Moniliales
 Family: Dematiaceae
 Genus: Alternaria
 Species: alternata
MANAGEMENT:
 Collect and destroy affected plant parts
 Proper nutritional Management.
 Reduce plant population
 Mancozeb 0.25% as aerial spray
5. Stolon Rot: C.O: Rhizoctonia bataticola & Sclerotium rolfsii

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Symtoms:
Aerial Symptoms:
 Initially yellowing of leaves & stunted growth. advance stages the plants wilts followed
by death of above ground parts.
Below ground symtoms:
 Stolons exhibit pinkish brown lesions initially. Which gradually turns into dark brown
lesions.
 Later turns to dark brown to black patches that increase in size resulting in soft decay.
Etiology:
 Septate mycelia, sub epidermal haustoria
 Asexual spores: Mycelial strands
 Sexual spores: Basidium (Basidiospores)
 Vegetative structure: Sclerotial bodies
EPIDEMIOLOGY:
 Warm weather, soil temp 28-32oC. Optimum moisture, neutral pH
 Primary Sources of Inoculum : Sclerotial bodies present in the debris
 Secondary Sources of Inoculum : Soil borne mycelial strands
TAXONOMY:
 Kingdom: Fungi
 Division: Deuteromycota
 Class: Deuteromycetes
 Order: Mycelia sterilia
 Family: Mycelia sterilia
 Genus: Rhizoctonia
 Species: bataticola
LIFE CYCLE:
 The fungi produces sclerotial bodies these are like sorghum seed like vegetative
structures.
 When there are congenial conditions the sclerotial bodies germinate and causes disease
the affected host having mycelial strands again they germinate and cause infection that
how disease cycle continues.
MANAGEMENT:
 Affected debris destruction
 Summer ploughing
 Crop rotation
 Soil sterilization
 Biological agent Tricoderma spp.
 Carbendizim 0.1% or Mancozeb 0.25% as soil drenching.
6. WILT: Verticilium albo-atrum
 Complete loss disease
Symptoms :
Aerial Symptoms:
 Initially lower leaves starts V shape yellowing. Dwarfing unilateral development of the
branches. Etiolating of leaves leading to wilting death.
 Internal symtoms:
 Light tan colour discolouration of vascular bundles.
Etiology: Septate mycelia inter and intra-cellular haustoria ,produces V shaped conidiophore
on which round shaped small conidia are borne
 Vegetative structures: Sclerotial bodies
 Sexual spores: Ascospore

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  Asexual spore: Micro and macro conidia
 Primary Sources of Inoculum : Dormant mycelia
 Secondary Sources of Inoculum : Soil and air borne micro and macro- conidia
Epidemiology:
 Temp. 30-32oc, RH-90-92%, alkaline pH, Black Clay soil, low moisture, susceptible
host
LIFE CYCLE OF WILT
 Perithecium is a sexual fruiting body.
 It has ascus, when it matures it produces ascospores.
 These ascospores flight on the air and chance factor lands on the host.
 It enters the host through natural openings.
 The host shows wilt Symptoms & produces micro and macro conidia & again lands on
the host like asexual life cycle continues.
 If conditions are adverse like high or low Temperature, high or low Relative humidity
it starts sexual life cycle.
Management:
 Collect and burn affected plant parts.
 Use soils free from nematode.
 Crop rotation with non host crops.
 Application of biological agents Trichoderma spp.
 Soil drenching with carbendazim 0.1%

41. Disease of Opium

S. N.:Papaver somniferum L.Family: Poppies

(2n=22)
Major disease
1. Downy mildew – Peronospora arborescens
Minor diseases
Fungal diseases
2. Damping off – Pythium dissotocum
3. Root rot – Macrophomina phaseolina or Fusarium semitectum
4. Powdery mildew – Erysiphe polygoni
5. Capsule rot – Embellisia phragamospora
6. Leaf blight –Helminthosporium papaveris
Virus diseases
7. Poppy mosaic virus
8. Cabbage-ring spot
9. Beet-yellow
10. Bean yellow mosaic
Bacterial diseases
11. Soft rot – Erwinia papaveris
12. Major diseases:
1. Downy mildew -Peronospora arborescens(Berk.) de Bary.
Symptoms:
 In India it is noticed during a middle of February,When the crop is fully grown.
 It is also noticed during November-February.It appears on seedling and such affected
seedling s are killed out right.
 The leaves near the tips and margins are covered with pale brown spots.

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  On the under surface grey-violet fungal growth is seen.
 Under favorable conditions the disease spreads and affected leaves dry up and become
papery and brittle.
 In severe cases of attack entire leaf is killed. Infection may spread to inflorescence and
stem also. Yield loss from 7-65%.
Etiology
 Mycelia- Aseptate
 Asexual spores – Barrel shape conidia borne on sporangiophore in asexual fruiting body
sporangia
 Sexual spore- Oospores borne in oogonium
 Sporangiophores are erect and very long. They are 7-10 times dichotomously branched
and the ultimate branches are fine, curved, sharp, diverging almost at right angles,
pointed at the tip.
 At the tip bears a single round –oval conidium .Sporangia are hyaline or pale violet.
 Oospores are round yellow, thick walled surrounded by an irregularly thick and reddish
brown wall
Mode of spead and survival:
 Primary source of inoculum: Oospores, affected debris.
 Secondary source of inoculum: Zoospores spread through wind, water splash
 The fungus infects Argemone mexicona, A. platyceras Meconosis sp. Papaver dubium,
P. argimone and P. rhoeas.
 The disease is carried from one season to another by means of thick walled oospores.
It is not seed borne. Mycelia fragments on capsule may serve as source of infection
Epidemiology:
 Temperature 22-240C
 Relative humidity- 90-95%
 Intermittent rain fall
 Susceptible host.
Management:
 All disease plant should be uprooted, collected and destroyed.
 Seed treatment with apron 35SD (metalaxyl) at 5g/kg +3 sprays of metalaxyl (ridomyl
25WP) 0.1% at 20, 60 and 80days of sowing.
 Foliar spraying with mancozeb 0.25% also controls the disease.
 The poppy line Vo.141 is found to be highly resistant to the disease.
Minor diseases:
Damping Off-
 This disease was reported in India from Lucknow during the incidence ranged from 40-
60%.
Symptoms:
 Pre-emergence& post-emergence damping off occurs in opium. Severely affected
seedlings show decay of root and collar region.
 Diseased seedlings die in 3-5days after attack.
 Mycelium of fungus is white and coenocytic, sporangia are filamentous, slightly
inflated with discharged tubes.
 Oogonia may be terminal or intercalary, spherical and 19-24 micrometer in diameter.
Antheridia 1-3 micrometer
 Oospores are single, plerotic, 17-20micro meter in size with 1.3micrometer thick walls.
ETIOLOGY: Pythium dissotocum Drechsle.
 Mycelia: Aseptate, Asexual spore- Zoospore, Sexual spore- Oospores borne in
oogonium

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Epidemiology:
 Temparature: 22-24oC
 High relative humidity: 90%,
 High density seedlings
 Low lying areas
 Increased moisture-80-90%
 Susceptible host.
Management:
 Raised methods for sowing, Line sowing with proper spacing,
 Soil sterilization with 4% formaldehyde upto depth of 30cm,
 Seed treatment with captan -2g /kg or Mancozeb-2g /kg of seeds
Root Rot - Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid.
 It is prevalent in parts of Bihar and U.P.
Symptoms:
 Affected plant begins to wither and dry up from the base. The stem at the collar region
shows blackening and shredding of root barks. The affected plants dry up; the disease
is noticed in patches. Large number of minute and black sclerotia can be seen on
affected root barks.
Mode of spead and survival:
 Primary source of inoculum : sclerotial bodies
 Secondary source of inoculum: Mycelia
Etiology:
 Mycelia- septate
 Asexual spores: Absent
 Sexual spores : Basidiospores
 Vegetative structures: Sclerotial bodies
 Fungus hyphae are colorless, branched and 8-9micrometer in diameter later they
become brown.
 Sclerotia are black and measures 150 micro meter in diameter.
Management:
 Seed treatment with carbendazim 2 g/kg and provision of proper drainage facilities are
the important control methods.

Powdery Mildew- Erysiphe polygoni DC.

Introduction
 Powdery mildew is an endemic disease wherever the opium are grown in the world.
The disease has been reported from the American continent, Europe, Africa, Australia
and Asia.In India, the disease is most common in North India.
Symptoms:
 The fungus attacks all the green plant parts at all stages of plant growth.
 The fungus produces white to grayish powdery patches on the affected plant parts
including fruits but young leaves are most susceptible and develop small whitish
patches both on upper as well as lower surface.
 These patches grow in size and coalesce to cover large areas on the leaf lamina.
Malformation and discoloration of the affected leaves are also common symptom,
resulting in distortion.
 Similarly, powdery patches are produced on the stem, tendril, flowers and young fruit
branches.
 Diseased vines appear wilted and the stem portion turns brown.
 The infected blossom and berries turn dark in colour, irregular in shape and brittle.

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  In advance stage of infection, berries may develop cracks and such berries do not
develop and ripe.
Etiology: Erysiphe polygoni
 Mycelia is septate, external thin mycelia, haustoria is sub epidermal, obligate parasite.
 Asexual spores are barrel shape conidia borne on oidiophore in chains asexual fruiting
body oidia.
 Sexual spores are ascospores inside the Ascus in the ascocarp Cleistothecium.
Mode of spread and survival:
 Primary source of inoculum :Ascospores, Dormant mycelia.
 Secondary source of inoculum: oidia
 It survives as dormant mycelia and as Cleistothecia on the shoots and buds from season
to season.
 The disease spreads by the air- borne conidia.
Epidemiology:
 The disease occurs in severe from Oct- Nov in North India and Feb- June in South
India.
 Disease is favoured by warm sultry weather and retarded by sunshine.
 Warm winter temperature from 20 to 33.50C has been found to be the cause for
epidemic in Hyderabad.
 Disease development is adversely affected by rain.
MANAGEMENT:
Cultural practices :
 The proper air circulation through the canopy and prevent excess shading help in
reducing the disease.
 Orchard sanitation is also important in reducing the disease pressure during the growing
season.
Chemical control :
 Fungicides like sulphur, dinocap, benomyl, are used commercially although not as
extensively as sulphur, to control the disease.
 The use of fungicides for control of powdery mildew should begin during early stages
of development. Spray schedules of 7-10 days are usually required for effective control
by sulphur.
 Dinocap has 10-14 days schedule while; sterol biosynthesis inhibiting fungicides are
commonly used at 14-21 days schedule.

Capsule Rot- Embellisia phragmospora.(Van embess)

SYMPTOMS:
 Symptoms can be seen on mature and tender leaves.
 Large circular, irregular, water soaked lesions, dirty black in color appear on the
margins of mature leaves.
 Lesions can be seen in the centre of the leaf on either side of the midrib.
 In some cases, large lesions extending the entire length of the leaf can also be seen. The
exposed portions of the tender, unopened leaves may also rot.
 The leaves become shredded and remain attached to the pseudostem.
 Grayish patches of irregular outline and size with brownish margins are found at the
base of the leaf sheath.
 The basal portion rots causing the pseudostem to break away at the collar region even
at the slightest disturbance.
 The infection spreads to the underground parts and become decomposing mass.

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  Small light brown lesion on green, tender fruits which falls off in 3-6 days after
infection leaving the small fruits stalk on the bare of inflorescence, finally rotting
occurs.
MODE OF SPREAD AND SURVIVAL:
 Primary source of inoculum : Chlamydospores, Infected plant debris.
 Secondary source of inoculum: Sporodochium, conidia (macro & micro)
 The fungus is soil borne and survives in the form of chlamydospores.
 Soil PH 6-7 was favoured.
EPIDEMIOLOGY:
 This disease found in MAY-AUGUST coinciding with South -West monsoon.
 Temperature-21-260, high rainfall, high soil moisture, more relative humidity.
MANAGEMENT:
 The disease is controlled by spraying with mancozeb 0.2%or zineb0.2%.

Soft Rot: Erwinia papaveris (Ayyar) Magrou.

SYMPTOMS:
 The disease is characterized by external blackening and internal disintegration,
accompanied by the discoloration of the mid rib of the leaves.
 The disease commences at the apex and extents downwards and the whole plant is
turned into a slimy mass.
ETIOLOGY: CO: Erwinia papaveris
 It is a gram – ve, single celled, peritrichous bacteria
 The bacterium is rod shaped 0.5-2.5×0.5 micro meter in size, strictly aerobic, , non acid
fast,
 Non-Sporulating, Non-capsulated with 2-8 peritrichous flagella.
MODE OF SPEAD AND SURVIVAL:
13. Primary source of inoculum:Affected debries.
14. Secondary source of inoculum: Bacterial cells.
EPIDEMIOLOGY:
 Optimum temperature for growth is 30oC
 Thermal death point lies between 50-60ºC
 The bacterium can retain its viability on poppy seeds for over 20months.
MANAGEMENT:
 Copper oxy Chloride(COC) 0.3%
Poppy Mosaic-VIRUS
 The aphid, Myzus persicae is the vector which transmits the mosaic disease.
 The minimum acquisition feeding period is one min.
 The minimum inoculation feeding period is also one min.
 Single aphid is efficient in transmitting the virus.
 The virus is non persistent type.
SYMPTOMS:
15. Yellow + green patches on leaves, stunting, flower drop, yield reduces.
16. This virus is very sensitive
MODE OF SPEAD AND SURVIVAL:
17. Primary source of inoculum: Affected host plants, weed host& self sown crops.
18. Secondary source of inoculum: Virus particle
EPIDEMIOLOGY:
 Summer season
 High temperature
 susceptible host

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  Improper Management leads to development of this disease.
MANAGEMENT:
 Initially spray Dimethoate -0.1% after 15 days and Imidacloprid 0.05% at another 15
daysand neemazol 0.5% later.

42. Disease of Solanum

S. N. :Solanum khasianum (Clarke) Family: Solanaceae

Among the various plants which are being used as raw materials for the production of
steroidal drugs, steroid-bearing solanum holds an important place due to its quick growth and
low initial investment in its commercial cultivation. It yields a glyco-alkaloid, solasodine, a
nitrogen analogue of diosgenine. Solasodine through 16-dehydro-pregnenolone (16 DPA) is
converted to a group of compounds like testosterone and methyl testosterone and
corticosteroids like predinisolone and hydrocortisone. These steroidal compounds have
antiinflammatory, anabolic and antifertility properties, due to which they find large-scale use
in health and family planning programmes all over the world.
Solanum khasianum synonym(s): Solanum viarum Dunal (2n = 24), belonging to the
family Solanaceae, is a stout, branched, woody shrub attaining a height of 0.75 to 1.5 m.
Diseases
1. Powdery mildew
Favarable condition
Disease will be noticed during prolonged dry and warm period.
Management:
 Bavistin (I g/l) may be sprayed to control this disease.

2. Collar rot or Fusarium wilt

C. O.: Fusarium solani
Management:
 It can be overcome by keeping the field clean and planting the crop in a well drained soil.
 Dipping the roots of the seedlings in a 0.1 % solution of Bavistin for 1 hour and drenching
the seed-beds with 0.25% of copper oxychloride or 0.1 % of Bavistin solution can control
the disease.
1. Mosaic
Symtoms:
 Sometimes the plants are attacked by mosaic, caused by three different viruses, which
leads to stunted growth and chloratic leaves.
Management:
 Such plants are better removed and destroyed.
2. Bacterial blight
is not a serious disease on this crop.
Management:
However, under severe incidence, a treatment with the solution of 30 g of Streptocyclin
and 30 g of Copper sulphate dissolved in 500 I of water per hectare controls this disease.
5. Leaf-blight
C. O. : Pythium butleri
Disease is not a serious problem in this crop. Seedlings may also be attacked by damping-off
disease while growing in the nursery-beds. To control this, the seeds are treated with Bavistin

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@ 3g /kg of seeds. Drenching the seed-beds 2-3 days after sowing and again when 50% of the
seeds have germinated, with 0.1% of Bavistin or 0.25% of copper oxychloride solution, helps
to check the further spread of the disease.
6. Chlorotic stunt
C. O. : Meloidogyne javanica and M. incognita
The occurrence of the chlorotic stunt disease and its association with the root-knot nematode
(Meloidogyne javanica), and the wilting of plants due to M. incognita have also been reported.

43. Disease of Isabggol

S. N.: Plantago ovata Forsk, Family: Plantains

In India, This crop is commercially cultivated in Gujarat state. It is an annual hearb with
narrow linear rosette like leaves. Ripe seeds of Plantaga psyllium Linn and Plantago ovata are
commonly used in medicine. The husk of seeds contains colloidal mucilage or polysaccharide
fractions mainly consisting of xylose, arabinose, galacturonic acid with rhamnose and
galactose. It is used for the management of chronic constipation and diarrhea. The mucilage
acts as smoothing lubricant, absorbs toxins and relieves intestinal irritation. This crop is known
to be affected by different diseases.

1. Downy mildew
Causal organisum: Two species of Peronosporacause diease, namely Peronospora
alta and Peronospora plantaginis.
Symptoms:
 It is a common and serious disease of this crop. In general, the disease appears
during spike initiation.
 Characteristically, small and pale yellow patches appear on the leaves of the
affected plants.
 These spots spread gradually causing complete destruction of the affected leaves.
 On the upper surfaces of leaves, chlorotic areas are seen, however, just below the
chlorotic arias, ash white frost like mycelial growth are seen on the lower surfaces
of such leaves.
 As a result of the disease, infected leaves usually become chlorotic and brownish,
resulting in their curling, crinkling and drying.
 Sometimes, chlorotic streaks running along the midrib of the leaves are seen. In
severe cases, entire plant looks blighted.
Etiology:
 Mycelium of the Parenospora alta is intracellular.
 Haustoria are formed with in the tissues, Sporangiophores are slender,
dichotomously branched, tapering and curved at angle less than acut angle.
 Sporangiophores usually measure 290-450 x 8.0 μm in size.
 Oospores are rarely observed. Hyphae of Peronospora plantaginis are intracellular,
measuring about 9.6 μm in diameter.
 Sporangiophores are slender, tree like with characteristic erect trunk.
 They are dichotomously branched and grey to pale yellow in color.
 They usually arise singly or in clusters from the stomata on the lower surfaces of
leaves. Sporangia formed on the sporangiophores are hyaline in color and are
broadly elliptical to sub globose in shape.

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  They usually measure about 35 x 21 μm in size. On germination, sporangia produce
germ tubes.
Disease cycle:The disease is both seed and soil borne in nature.
Management:
 Seed treatment with any suitable fungicide should be done.
 Seed treatment with Metalaxyl@ 5 g/kg of seed and plant sprayings at regular interval
of 15 days have been reported for the better management of the disease.
 Fungicidal sprays with Bordeaux mixture or copper oxychloride has been reported to
be useful as prophylactic measure.
2. Damping off seedlings
Causal organism:Pythium ultimum, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum
Symptoms:
 In pre-emergence damping off, young seedlings may wither and fall down on the soil
surface.
 In post emergence, darkened, water soaked spots may develop on collar region of the
seedlings.
 Such lesions usually enlarge leading to the death of the seedlings. Disease may be
severe at high temperature and humidity prevalent at time of sowing.
Disease cycle:
The disease is soil borne in nature.
Management:
Seed treatment with any suitable fungicide like Metalaxyl @ 5g/kg of seed should be
done.
3. Wilt disease
Causal orgenisum:Pythium ultimum, Fusarium solani and Fusarium oxysporum
Symptoms:
 Discloaration of roots affected plants and accumulation of large amount of hyphae with
in the xylem vessels are the importantant characteristic of the disease.
 As a result of the disease, green leaves change into silver color.
 In severe attack, entire plants are wilted and cortical root rots are observed.
Disease cycle:
The disease is known to be soil borne in nature.
Management:
 Field sanitation and proper crop rotation should be followed.
 Seed treatment with any systemic fungicide like Benlate or Bavistin @ 2.5 g/kg seed
should be done.
4. Some other diseases of importance
Powdery mildew:
The disease is caused by Erysiphe polygoni
Symptoms:
 The disease usually appears at the time of flowering.
 It is characterized by the appearance of the powdery mass of spores on the leaves. Such
spores are small, white or grayish in color.
 These spot enlarge gradually and eventually cover entire plant surface in due course.
The spraying of the crop with any wettable sulphure compound or Karathane 0.2%
should be done after appurtenance of the disease.
Two or three sprayings at 15 days interval may be required for the manahement.
Alternaria leaf blight:
This disease is known to be caused by Alternaria alternate (Fr.) Keissler.
Symptoms:

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  Older and matured leaves are more commonly affected by the disease.
 First of all, duall green to yellowish coloured lesions are observed on the leaf tips.
 In severe case, In severe case, irregular necrotic spots are formed on the leaves of the
affected plants.
 These spots enlarge gradually, resulting in the blackening and drying of affected leaves.
 Shriveling and blackening of seeds of infected plants are also observed.
Management:
 Spray sutable fungicide as used in different leaf spots.
Minor disease
Powdery mildew: Erysiphe cichoracearum
Leaf spot:Septoria plantaginae.

******

44. Disease of Ashwagandha

S. N. :Wichania somnifera DunalFamily: Nightshade

Ashwagandha is an erect, evergreen shrub distributed throughout the drier part of India. It
is known to be cultivated in different part of the world including Mediterranean regions. It is
cultivated on commercial scales in the central part of India. Many alkaloieds have been isolated
from roots. The total alkaloid fraction exhibit relaxant and antispasmodic effects. The
compound found in it also showed potent anti-artharitic and anti-inflammatory properties. It
roots are prescribed for hiccough, female disorders, cough and rheumatism. It functions as a
sedative. It is useful in the treatment of inflammatory conditions, ulcers and scabies. It has anti
fatigue properties too. A number of diseases of this crop have been reported as summarized
below.

1. Damping off and seedling rot

Causal organisum: Alternaria alternate (Fr.) Keissler.
Symptoms
 Damping off and seedling rot mortality causes serious damage to the crop.
 The plant population is drastically reduced, resulting in reduced yield of roots.
 Infected plant turn yellowish and finally dry up.
 In case of damping off, the leaves of affected plants may be observed with
characteristic necrotic lesions along with their curling and burnt margins.
 In severe cases of infection, whole plant may die.
Management:
 Well drainage soil should be selected for crop sowing
 Use of fungicide captan 3 g/kg seed is advised
2. Leaf blight and die back
Causal organisum: Alternaria alternate (Fr.) Keissler.

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 Symptoms:
 Die-back and leaf blight disease causes significant damage to the crop.
 Characteristically, the appearance of small light brown spot on leaves and flowers
are the important symptoms.
 These spots usually enlarge and coalesce, resulting in blight symptoms.
 In case of die-back, the disease causes necrosis of tender twigs from the tip
backwords, causing withering of plants.
Management:
 Use seeds procured from disease-free plants.
 Seed dressing with suitable fungicide has also been found effective during the early
stage.
 Crop should be sprayed with Dithane M-45 0.3%.

3. Myrothecium leaf spot

Causal organism: Myroththecium roridum Tode ex Fries.

The disease has been reported from the first time from Jaipur India that usually
appears in rainy season.
Symptoms:
 Charactristically, small, dirty, yellow to brown coloured, water soaked spots with a
violet periphery may be observed on the leaves of the affected plants.
 Each of the spots is often seen surrounded by chlorotic halo.
 The spots enlarge gradually and coalesce, becoming brittle in appearance.
Sporodochia of the fungus were observed on the lower surface of the infected
leaves.
Management:
 Sparing of affected crop with Mancozeb 0.25 %.

******
45. Disease of Aloevera

Scientific name: Aloe vera Family: Asphodelaceae

1. Aloe Rust
C.O.: Phakopsora pachyrhizi
Symptom:
 Aloe rust is a fungal disease of succulents that causes circular black or brown spots onthe
leaves of aloes and gasterias.
 The fungaldisease is especially a concern in thecommercial production of aloe vera.
 The blackspots are created by the oxidation of the phenols in plant sap and are
permanent oncethey appear.
 Aloe rust is a fungus that may leaveblack spots on the branches of aloe plant.
Etiology:
Frequent rains, drizzle, or dew with cool. temperature and high humidity Poor quality
seeds used for sowing, Poor field sanitation

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 Management:
 Disease is self-limiting and requires no treatment.
2. Anthracnose disease
C.O.: Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
Symptoms
 The initial appearance of small round to oval, dark green water-soaked which later become
circular spots with tan to light brown center.
 As the spots mature the center of the lesion become reddish brown to brown color.
 With progress in disease the lesions join together to form big necrotic area.
Favourable condition
 Disease is favored by warm, wet weather; spread easily during wet weather by water
splash
Management
 Application of suitable fungicides.
 Spray the 0.3 % mencozeb
3. Basal stem rot Fusarium spp.
Symptoms
 Base of plant turning reddish brown to black and rotting.
 In severe condition quickly begin to rot
Favourable condition
Fatal disease of aloes; disease emergence favours cold, damp conditions.
Management
Pieces of plant may be saved by taking cuttings above rotted portion.
Bacterial
4. Bacterial soft rot
C. O.: Pectobacterium chrysanthemi
Symptoms
 Watery, rotting leaves which are darker in color; young leaves wilting and collapsing;
leaves bulging due to gas formation inside.
Favourable condition
 Bacteria survive in plant debris in the field; disease emergence favored by hot, wet weather.
Management
Fatal disease; avoid over-watering plants.

*******

46. Disease of Guggle

S. N. : Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Family : Burseraceae

It is a shrub or small tree, reaching a maximum height of 4 m (13 ft), with thin papery bark. The
branches are thorny. The leaves are simple or trifoliate, the leaflets ovate, 1–5 cm (0.39–
1.97 in) long, 0.5–2.5 cm (0.20–0.98 in) broad, and irregularly toothed. It is gynodioecious,
with some plants bearing bisexual and male flowers, and others with female flowers. The
individual flowers are red to pink, with four small petals. The small round fruit are red when
ripe.
Cultivation and uses
Commiphora wightii is sought for its gummy resin, which is harvested from the plant's bark
through the process of tapping. In India and Pakistan, guggul is cultivated commercially. The

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resin of C. wightii, known as gum guggulu, has a fragrance similar to that of myrrh and is
commonly used in incense and perfumes. It is the same product that was known
in Hebrew, ancientGreek and Latin sources as bdellium.
The gum can be purchased in a loosely packed form called dhoop, an incensefromIndia, which
is burned over hot coals. This produces a fragrant, dense smoke. The burning coals which let
out the smoke are then carried around to different rooms and held in all corners for a few
seconds. This is said to drive away evilspirits as well as remove the evileye from the home and
its family members.
Chemical composition
Over a hundred metabolites of various chemical compositions were reported from the
leaves, stem, latex, root and fruit samples. High concentrations of quinic acid and myo-
inositol were found in fruits and leaves.
Leaf spot:
C. O.: Phoma glomerata (Corda) Wollenw. et Hochapfel
Symtoms:
 Disease is a serious problem for Commiphora are perhaps is the most prevalent plant
disease in Northeastern India.
 Initial stage of the disease start with the development of small black concentric ring-
spots on leaf surfaces followed by brown discoloration of tissues, ultimately turning
into black concentric rings (Sharma and Gour 1987).
Management:
 To control the diseases, spray Guggul crop with Blitox 4 Gram with 0.1 gram agrimycin
in 1 liter of water
1. Root-rot disease
 As this plant requires arid and semi-arid land with rocky tracts, overwatering
especially during rainy season can cause root-rot disease due to lack of gaseous
exchange.
 causing appearance of brown lesions on leaves.
 These leaves further turn yellow, wilt and finally the plant dies due to arrested growth.
Management
 Use healthy planting materials for planting
2. Collar rot
Sclerotium rolfsii
Symptoms
 This disease appear during rainy season
 The plant is infected at collar region when the water remains stagnant near the base at
early growing stage.
Management
The condition may be controlled by avoiding stagnation of water around the base of the
plant and spraying Diathane M-45 fungicide @ 2 g/litre of water on the crop.

******

47. Disease of Tephrosia

S. N. :Tephrosia purpureaFamily:Fabaceae

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 Tephrosia purpurea is a species of flowering plant in the pea family, It is a common
wasteland weed. It many parts it is under cultivation as green manure crop. It is found
throughout India and Sri Lankain poor soils. Common names include: Bengali: (Jangli neel),
English: Fish poison, Wild indigo
Uses
Tephrosia purpurea is used as a fish poison for fishing. Its leaves and seedscontain tephrosin,
which paralyzes fish. Larger doses are lethal to fish, but mammals and amphibians are
unaffected.
Wild indigo (Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers.) grows as a common weed throughout the Indian
subcontinent. The plant has pinnate leaves, white or purplish flowers, and flat hairy pods, and
is cultivated as a green manure crop. The plant extracts contain compounds such as tephrosin,
an aromatic ester, prenylated flavonoid, and sesquiterpene (2) that have medicinal properties.
Feed and manure
Tephrosia purpurea has been reported to provide fodder to animals such as goats. It makes
also a good green manure in fields.
1. Leaf blight:
C. O.: Alternaria tenussima (Kunze ex Pers.)
Symtoms:
 The disease appear as small dot like spot which later on meare to to form irregular patches
along the mid rib and vains on ventral surface.
 Nearly 50 % area of the leaves infected in advance stage.
 The disease spots turned oblivious brown to black on maturity which ultimately lead to
necrosis and finally to leaf holes.
Management
 Use healthy seed for propogation.
 Use mancozeb 0.3% for folear spray.
2. Witches' broom
C. O.: Phytoplasma
Symptums:
 Characterized by chlorosis, stunting, and proliferative branching.

Management

 Uproot and burnt the infected plant.

 Sray proper pesticide for conter the insect.

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