Challenging disease problems in subtropical fruits and their management.
Verma K. S., Abhishek Sharma
Author Affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141 004 (Punjab), India.
: 72-89
Abstract : Mango malformation, citrus tristeza, citrus gummosis and guava wilt diseases are of national importance and have intrigued for their cause and control for many years. The diseases mango malformation and guava wilt have several causal organisms and various factors, mainly edaphic in nature, have been reported affecting these diseases. This indicates that these diseases are complex in nature and a single factor cannot solely be attributed as their cause. At present, it is not feasible and economical to control these diseases with the use of chemicals. The use of appropriate cultural practices can control the diseases up to certain extent. However, use of resistant rootstocks/cultivars can be effective measures to control these diseases. In the present scenario, horticulturists, entomologists, plant pathologists, weed science experts and the scientists from other applied disciplines are working in isolation and that is why any foolproof, economically viable, socially acceptable and eco-friendly technology has so far not been developed against some of these diseases. A comprehensive scientific interaction should be planned to give ample scope to the scientists to deliberate and arrive at some solution.