Strategies for the management of important bacterioses of fruit crops.
Vijai Pal, Indu Jalali
Author Affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 125 004 (Haryana), India.
: 90-114
Abstract : India is the second largest producer of fruits in the world. Among major constraints, bacterial diseases pose a serious threat in their successful cultivation by reducing the yield and deteriorating the quality of the produce. Bacterial spot and canker of mango (Xanthomonas campestris pv. mangiferaeindicae) is an important disease affecting all above-ground plant parts. Similarly, citrus canker (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri) is known for ravaging the citrus crop. Fire blight of apple and pear (Erwinia amylovora) is, however, not present in the Indian orchards, but has a great quarantine significance in the present scenario of liberal import and export of plant material. Other major bacterial problems of fruit crops include bacterial wilt of banana (Ralstonia solanacearum), citrus Huanlongbing (Candidatus Liberobacter asiaticum and Candidatus Liberobacter africanum), crown gall of pome and stone fruits [Rhizobium radiobacter], bacterial canker (Pseudomonas spp.) and gummosis of stone fruits, grapevine canker (Xylophilus ampelinus) and bacterial blight of pomegranate (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae). Even non-traditional fruit crops like karonda (Carissa carandas) and bael (Aegle marmelos) which are being exploited in the present diversified agriculture/horticulture, are seriously affected by cankers caused by different pathovars of Xanthomonas campestris. In this chapter, a discussion on their symptomatology, aetiology, epidemiology and management has been included.