COCONUT (Cocos nucifera).pptx

COCONUT (Cocos nucifera)

1. Maintenance of healthy coconut plantation Rajib Kumar De Principal Scientist Crop Protection Division ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres Barrackpore , Kolkata 700 120 (WB)

2. COCONUT ( Cocos nucifera ) The coconut tree  is a member of the  family   Arecaceae  (palm family). C oconut is found in the tropics and subtropics. Coconut is unique for containing "water " for drinking. It is a “superfood” with  amazing benefits. Coconuts can be processed to oil from the kernel, charcoal from the hard shell and  coir  from the fibrous husk. The   cellular layers of endosperm deposit along the walls of the coconut, to become flesh or   dried into copra for oil  and  milk . The coconut palm thrives on sandy soils and is highly tolerant of  salinity . It prefers abundant sunlight and regular rainfall (1500  to 2500 mm annually), high humidity  (70–80 %+) and mean temperature 28 - 37 °C for optimum growth.  

3. C oconut is cultivated in   Kerala , Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Goa, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal and the islands Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar . Four southern states account for 92% of total production: Kerala (45%), Tamil Nadu (27%), Karnataka (11%), and Andhra Pradesh (9%). Kerala has largest number of coconut trees, is famous for coconut-based products—coconut water, copra,  coconut oil , coconut cake, coconut toddy, coconut shell-based products, coconut wood-based products, coconut leaves, and coir pith. In Kerala, the coconut tree is termed as  kalpa vriksham , which essentially means all parts of coconut tree is useful some way or other. COCONUT IN INDIA

4. Maintenance of healthy coconut plantation Planting materials : Good mother plants and healthy seedlings, proportion of female flowers, high fruit setting, copra content, Spacing: 7.5 – 9 m x to accommodate 177 – 124 plants /ha Irrigation: 45 litres once in 4 days or 250 litres water / week with good drainage. Inter-culture: Regular weeding, ploughing, intercropping, etc. Follow integrated nutrient management Grow green manure crops - cowpea , sunhemp ( Crotalaria juncea ), Mimosa invisa , Calapagonium mucanoides , Pueraria phaseoloides , etc. may be sown in coconut basins during April-May and incorporated during September-October. Apply organic or compost manure @ 50kg / palm / year. Apply balanced dose of chemical fertilizers i.e. 500g Nitrogen (1.1kg urea), 300 g Phosphorus (1.7 kg Mussouriphos ), 1000g Potassium (1.7 kg Muriate of potash) in two splits - 1/3rd during April-May and 2/3rd during September-October under rainfed condition and in four splits during January, April, July and October under irrigated condition and 1000:500:2000 per plant for hybrids making circular basin of 1.8 -2 m radius. In addition to this 500g MgO (1 kg Magnesium sulphate ) also has to be applied along with second dose of fertilizer application .

5. Follow strictly all the prescribed prophylactic measures against leaf rot disease, red palm weevil, rhinoceros beetle etc. so as to ensure that the palms are not debilitated. Practice clean cultivation and burn off diseased plant parts ; Cleaning at regular interval; Rouging of diseased and low yielding plants; Root feeding with 3-5% Tridemorph ( Calixin ) or 3% metalaxyl ( Ridomil , Apron) may be adopted 3 times a year for sick plants . Cut and burn severely affected palms which cannot be saved . Harvesting : Starting at 5- 7 years to 50-60 years, average yield 10000 -14000 and up to 25000 nuts per ha per annum. FIELD SANITATION IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR HEALTHY COCONUT PLANTATION

6. Fungal diseases of coconut 1 Algal leaf spot Cephaleuros virescens 2 Anthracnose Glomerella cingulata = Colletotrichum gloeosporioides  [ anomorph ] 3 Bitten leaf Ceratocystis paradoxa = Chalara paradoxa  [anomorph] 4 Bipolaris leaf spot Bipolaris incurvata 5 Black scorch Ceratocystis paradoxa = Chalara paradoxa  [anomorph] 6 Bud rot / Nut fall / Fruit rot Phytophthora palmivora , P. heveae , P. katsurae , P. nicotianae , P. arecae , Fusarium moniliforme , Fusarium solani , Graphium  sp. 7 Catacauma leaf spot Catacauma mucosum 8 Damping-off Fusarium  spp ., Phytophthora  spp ., Pythium  spp ., Rhizoctonia solani 9 Dry basal rot Ceratocystis paradoxa = Chalara paradoxa  [anomorph] 10 Ganoderma butt rot Ganoderma boninense , G. tornatum , G. zonatum 11 Graphiola leaf spot Graphiola phoenicis 12 Gray leaf blight Pestalotiopsis palmarum 13 Koleroga Phytophthora arecae 14 Leaf blight Cytospora palmarum 15 Leaf spots Alternaria  sp ., Botryosphaeria disrupta , Capitorostrum cocoes , Cercospora  sp ., Curvularia lunata , Cylindrocladium pteridis , Drechslera gigantea , Drechslera halodes , Epicoccum nigrum , Helminthosporium  sp ., Macrophoma  sp ., Macrosporium cocos , Melanconium  sp ., Mycosphaerella palmicola 16 Lethal bole rot Marasmiellus cocophilus 17 Lixa grande Sphaerodothis acrocomiae 18 Lixa pequena Phyllachora torrendiella 19 Powdery mildew Oidium  sp. 20 Queima das folhas Botryosphaeria cocogena = Lasiodiplodia theobromae  [ anomorph ] 21 Root rot Fusarium  spp ., Phytophthora  spp ., Pythium  spp ., Rhizoctonia solani , 22 Stem bleeding Ceratocystis paradoxa , Chalara paradoxa 23 Stigmina leaf spot Stigmina palmivora 24 Thread blight Pellicularia filamentosa , Pellicularia koleroga , Corticium penicillatum 25 Leaf rot Colletotrichum gloeosporioides , Exserohilum rostratum , Gliocladium vermoeseni , Fusarium solani , F. moniliforme  var.  intermedium , Thielaviopsis paradoxa  and  Rhizoctonia solani  

7. Bacterial, v irus and viroid , p hytoplasmal diseases m iscellaneous disorders of coconut Bacterial diseases 37 Bacterial bud rot Erwinia  spp. Virus and viroid diseases 25 Cadang-cadang Coconut cadang-cadang viroid 26 Foliar decay SS-DNA, identity uncertain 27 Tinangaja Coconut tinangaja viroid 28 Natuna wilt Not known 29 Premature decline Not known 30 Soccoro wilt Not known Phytoplasmal diseases 38 Awka disease Phytoplasma 39 Blast Phytoplasma suspected 40 Cape St. Paul wilt Phytoplasma 41 Cedros wilt Phytomonas stahellii 42 Heart rot Phytomonas stahellii 43 Kaincope disease Phytoplasma 44 Kalimantan wilt Phytoplasma suspected 45 Kribi disease Phytoplasma 46 Lethal decline Phytoplasma 47 Lethal disease Phytoplasma 48 Lethal yellowing Phytoplasma 49 Pudricion del cogollo Phytoplasma 50 Root wilt disease Phytoplasma 51 Stem necrosis Phytoplasma suspected Miscellaneous diseases and disorders 31 Bristle top Not known 32 Dry bud rot Not known, but possibly vectored by the insects Sogatella kolophon and S. yubana 33 Finschafen disease Not known 34 Frond rot Physiological disorder 35 Leaf scorch   decline Not known 36 Malaysia wilt Not known

8. R OOT  (WILT) DISEASE The most important disease of coconut in the State. Non lethal but debilitating disease affecting palms of all ages. Occurs in a contiguous manner in an area of 4.1 lakh ha in eight southern districts of the State, stretching from Thiruvananthapuram in the South to Thrissur in the North. The disease is not a fatal one but a slow decline disease causing drastic yield reduction. Symptoms  Abnormal bending or ribbing of the leaflets, flaccidity of the leaves, general yellowing followed by marginal necrosis of the leaflets.  Abnormal shedding of buttons, reduced leaves and crown, gradual reduction in yield. Symptoms Flaccidity of leaves of the central and outer whorls is the earliest consistent symptom irrespective of the age of the palm or the soil type Whole frond develops a cup like appearance (Plate2) Foliar yellowing and marginal necrosis of leaflets of the outer whorls of leaves (Plate3) In seedling and juvenile palms, yellowing of foliage is not common and flaccidity is the only evident symptom. Leaves produced subsequently become smaller and thinner Paling of the younger leaves and stunting of the crown due to the reduction in number and size of the leaves Deterioration and decay of roots and rootlets from tip backwards and reduction in regeneration of fresh roots Root cortex turn brown and dries up in flakes Superimposing of leaf rot disease on about 65% of the root (wilt) diseased palms contributes to the rapid decline and reduction in yield of the affected palms (Plate4) Drying up of the spathes and necrosis of spikelets from tip downward in unopened inflorescence (Plate 5) Inflorescence necrosis, production of little or no female flowers, pollen sterility and shedding of immature nuts and buttons Reduction in size and number of nuts Production of poor quality nut / copra, thinner husk, less firm shell, weaker fibres , uneven thickness of kernel Thinner kernel never dries up into copra but remains soft and flexible with very less oil content Insipid tender coconut water Leaf bending yellowing marginal necrosis reduced leaves and crown

9. Causal Organism Mycoplasma Like Organism (MLO) Phytoplasma ; Vectors – Lace wing bug – Stephanitis typicus (Plate6 ); Plant hopper - Proutista moesta ; Occurs in all major soil types but the spread is faster in sandy, sandy loam, alluvial and heavy textured soils. Laterite soils have lower incidence and intensity of the disease. Higher incidence in water logged low lying areas adjacent to rivers and canals and also in neglected gardens. Management practices Being a non-lethal, debilitating disease an integrated approach is to be followed for management of root wilt. Efficient management of root (wilt) affected palms demand control of all pests and diseases, imparting natural resistance and health to the palms through proper manuring and agronomic practices . Recommended control measures for leaf rot disease as this disease gets superimposed on most of the root wilt affected palms.  Cut and remove disease advanced, uneconomical palms yielding less than 10 nuts per palm per year.  Irrigate coconut palms with at least 250 litre water in a week. Provide adequate drainage facilities. Adopt suitable inter/mixed cropping in coconut gardens. Desilt the channel and strengthen the bunds during summer months when the crop is grown under the bund and channel system Adopt strictly all the prescribed prophylactic measures against leaf rot disease, red palm weevil, rhinoceros beetle etc. Initial stage of the disease, spray the crown and drench the basin with 500 ppm tetracycline. R OOT  (WILT) DISEASE

10. FOLLOW INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT TO CHECK R OOT  (WILT) Apply balanced dose of NPK fertilizers in the form of urea, rock phosphate and potash Average management : 0.34 kg N, 0.17 kg P2O5 and 0.68 kg K2O per palm per year Good management : 0.50 kg N, 0.32 kg P2O5 and 1.20 kg K2O per palm per year Add organic manures (cattle or green manure) @ 50 kg per palm per year Lime : 1 kg per palm per year and MgO ( Magnesite Magnesium source) : 100g (In Onattukara region: 500g) Grow green manure crops like sunhemp , sesbania , cowpea, calapagonium etc in the coconut basin and incorporate in situ Adopt mixed farming by raising fodder crops in the interspaces and maintaining milch cows Mixed cropping with cocoa and intercropping with tapioca, yams and elephant foot yam Under rainfed conditions apply fertilizers in 2 splits, 1/3 at the time of south-west monsoon and 2/3rd before the north-east monsoon. Under irrigated conditions apply fertilizers in three equal splits during April-May, August-September and December-January Apply fertilizers and manures in 10 cm deep circular basins at a radius of 2m from the bole of the palm

11. B ud  Rot/ Fruit Rot o f Coconut Symptoms  The earlier symptom is the yellowing of one or two younger leaves. Black spots appear on spindle leaves. In the later stages the spindle withers and drops down.  The tender leaf base and soft tissues of the crown rot into a slimy mass of decayed material emitting foul smell.  Ultimately the entire crown falls down and the palm dies Management practices Remove all affected tissue of the crown and apply Bordeaux paste on cut end and provide a protective covering till normal shoot emerges. Spray 1% Bordeaux mixture on the crown of the neighbouring palms as a prophylatic measure.  Spray with 1% Bordeaux mixture during May and September if the disease occur frequently. Cut and burn severely affected palms which cannot be saved .

12. B ud  Rot/ Fruit Rot of Coconut Symptoms Common killer / fatal disease in mid and uplands of the State Affects palms of all ages, but young palms of less than 20 years of age are more susceptible especially during rainy / monsoon season Characterized by rotting of the terminal bud and surrounding tissues which emit foul smell (Plate13) Water soaked lesions at the base of the petioles of the young leaves in the seedlings The spear leaf turns pale and comes off with a gentle pull in the seedlings (Plate14) In adult palm, the first externally visible symptom is withering of the spear leaf, which subsequently turns pale in colour , bends over at the base and hangs down Withering and yellowing of one or two younger leaves surrounding the spindle Rotting of the tender leaf base and soft tissues of the crown into a shiny mass of decayed material that emit a foul smell which attracts flies (Plate15) Rotting progresses downwards, affects the meristem and kills the palms The internal tissues show discolouration assuming a pale pink with a brown border (Plate16) Drooping of successive leaves and falling of leaves one by one, leaving only mature leaves in the lower whorls at the crown (Plate17) Retained nuts on the palm grow to maturity The palm ultimately succumbs to the disease, if not checked Causal Organism  Phytophthora palmivora  and  Phytophthora katsurae

13. Management of B ud   Rot/ Fruit Rot of Coconut In early stages of the disease, when the spindle leaf starts withering, cut and remove all affected tissues of the crown along with some healthy tissues and apply Bordeaux paste and protect it from rain by providing a mud pot or a polythene covering till normal shoots emerges (Plate18) Spray 1% Bordeaux mixture to the spindle leaves and 2-3 innermost whorls of leaves Burn all diseased tissues removed from the palm As a prophylactic measure, spray 1% Bordeaux mixture on the spindle leaves and on the base of 3-4 innermost whorls of leaves of neighbouring palms In palms that are sensitive to copper containing fungicides, spray and spray drench with Mancozeb 0.4% (4g/L) Small perforated sachets containing 2g Mancozeb may be tied to the top of the leaf axil. When it rains, a small quantity of the fungicide is released from the sachets to the leaf base, thus protecting the palm Adopt control measures for rhinoceros beetle and red palm weevil Provide adequate drainage in gardens Adopt proper spacing and avoid overcrowding in bud rot prone gardens In bud rot prone gardens, prophylactic measures should be done to all palms 2-3 times at 45 days intervals Clean the crown before monsoon and follow strict phytosanitation Regular application of organic matters favours the establishment of biocontrol agents and suppression of pathogens Apply salt and ash mixture or paddy husk after removing the affected portion in the crown and subsequently cover with a mud pot. They absorb moisture and keep the protected portion dry Apply bleaching powder on the affected portion Cut and remove badly affected palms from the field

14. Management of B ud  Rot/ Fruit Rot of Coconut Spraying of metalaxyl (e.g., Tagron 35 WS) at the rate of 0.2 % (i.e., 2 gm per litre of water) or metalaxyl + mancozeb (e.g., Krilaxyl ML 72 WP) at the rate of 0.2 % (i.e., 2 gm per litre of water) or copper oxychloride (e.g., Blitox 50 WP, Fytolan 50 WP, Blue Copper 50 WP) at the rate of 0.5 % (i.e., 5 gm per litre of water) mancozeb (e.g., Indofil M 45, Dithane M 45) at the rate of 0.5 % (i.e., 5 gm per litre of water) may check the disease to a great extent. Bordeaux paste Dissolve 100 gm of copper sulphate (CuSO 4 ) in 500 ml water. Dissolve 100 gm of quick lime (Ca(OH) 2 ) in 500 ml water separately. Mix two solutions to form 1 litre of Bordeaux paste Repeat spray at 20 – 30 day interval till problems persists. FOUR NEW SYSTEMIC FUNGICIDES (1) phenylamide ( MEFENOXAM Ridomil Gold SL) , (2) phosphonate ( FOSETYL-AL Aliette ) , (3) cinnamic acid ( Dimethomorph ), and (4) quinone outside inhibitor ( QoI ) ( azoxystrobin ,  kresoxim -methyl ) groups . They move into and within the plant and are used to manage   Phytophthora   diseases .

15. Symptoms  Shedding of female flowers and immature nuts. Lesions appear on the young fruits or buttons near stalk which later result in decay of the underlying tissues. Female flowers and immature nuts rot and shed especially during rainy season Nuts of 2-5 months old are highly susceptible Water soaked dark green lesions appear, usually near the fruit stalk of immature nuts, which later turn brown and become irregular in shape (Plate19) Lesions spread on the husk and endosperm resulting in their discolouration and rotting Nuts fall prematurely (Plate20) Fluffy white mycelial growth forms on the fallen nuts or buttons (Plate21, 22) Water soaked lesions on the inflorescence and rachis result in rotting and drying of inflorescence and rachis Mahali / Fruit Rot / Nut Fall of Coconut Fluffy white mycelial growth brown lesions with discolouration and rotting

16. Causal Organism Phytophthora palmivora and Phytophthora katsurae Spread of Disease The fungus survives as oospores, chlamydospores and mycelium in the soil, frond base or basal part of the crown. Heavy rainfall, high relative humidity of 94-100% and temperature below 24 o C are highly favourable for the disease spread. Dissemination of the disease is primarily by wind and wind blown rain and also by contact between bunches, dripping of rain water from the diseased to healthy bunches and also through insects Management practices  Remove and destroy fallen nuts. In dwarf palms, apply Dithane M-45 in place of Bordeaux mixture. Spray 1% Bordeaux mixture or copper oxychloride (5g/L ) on the bunches and crown during monsoon and subsequently twice at 40 days interval along with stickers as prophylatic measure in disease prone area Collect and destroy the fallen nuts In disease prone areas, adopt proper spacing of palms Provide proper drainage Regular manuring and proper cultural practices reduce the disease incidence Mahali / Fruit Rot / Nut Fall of Coconut Nuts fall prematurely

17. L eaf  Rot of Coconut Symptoms Blackening and shriveling up of distal ends of the leaflets in the central spindle and younger leaves which later break off in bits. Gradual weakening of the tree resulting in decline yield. Affects palms of all ages, especially palms below 25 years Water soaked lesions with different shape and colours on the emerging spindle and young tender leaves (Plate7). Dark brown spots develop on the tender leaves which later enlarge and dry up as the leaf emerges (Plate8) and leaflets will not open fully (Plate9). Successive central shoots are affected, resulting in rotting of all the leaves on the crown. These lesions enlarge, coalesce leading to extensive rotting of spindle leaves (Plate10). Extension of rotting into the interior of spindle resulting in decay and sometime rotting of buds Tips of leaflets and midribs often become blackish, shriveled and fall off in wind, giving a ‘fan’ like or ‘arrow leaf’ appearance to the leaves (Plate11) Successive infection of the emerging spindles results in appearance of symptoms in most of the leaves of the crown Extensive lesions and their coalescing results in severe blighting of lamina (Plate12) Breaking of ends of leaves which subsequently become yellow and eventually hang, dry and fall of Tips of leaflets and midribs become blackish, shriveled and fall off Dark brown spots

18. Causal Organism Fungal complex initiated predominantly by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides , Exserohilum rostratum and Fusarium spp. Spread of Disease Primary spread through air-borne conidia. Free water, raindrops, high relative humidity and low temperature especially during monsoon season are highly favaourable . Management practices Improve general condition of palms through proper manuring and management.  Remove and destroy severely affected / senile and uneconomic decayed portions of spindle leaf and upmost two leaves only. Pour fungicide solution of Hexaconazol ( Contaf 5E) - 2ml or Mancozeb ( Dithane M45 / Indifil M45) - 3g in 300ml water per palm to the base of spindle leaf. Apply 20g Phorate 10G mixed with 200g fine sand around the base of spindle leaf.  2-3 rounds of spraying is sufficient in case of mild infection. Clean the crown in general during pre-monsoon period. Remove and destroy the rotten portions from the spear leaf and the 2-3 adjacent leaves Pour 300 -1000 ml of fungicidal solution of 3g mancozeb in 300ml water at the base of spear Spray crowns and leaves with 1% Bordeaux mixture or 0.5% Copper oxychloride formulation (5g/L) or 0.4% Mancozeb (4g/L) in January, April-May and September. While spraying, care should be taken to spray the spindle leaf and 2-3 adjacent leaves L eaf  Rot of Coconut

19. Symptoms  Exudation of reddish brown liquid through cracks developing on stem.  Decaying of tissues at bleeding point  Vigour and yield declining.  Development of big holes inside the trunk Management practices   Chisel affected tissue and dress the wound with 5% Calixin (5 ml in 100 ml water). Apply coal tar after 2 days. Burn off chiselled pieces.  Avoid any mechanical injury to the stem.  To avoid spread of disease on to upper portion of trunk, root feeding with 5% calixin may be adopted 3 times a year - April-May, Spetember -October and January-February. Along with 50 kg organic manure , apply 5 kg neem cake containing the antagonistic fungi , Trichoderma culture to the basin during September. Provide adequate irrigation during summer and drainage during rainy season. Apply recommended doses of organic manures and chemical fertilizers. Coconut stem boring insects like, Xyleborus , Diocalandra should be controlled by applying Carbaryl 50% WP on the trunk @ 3g per litre water. S tem Bleed ing of Coconut

20. Middle aged palms are more fatally affected. Palms bear profusely just prior to and at the initiation of symptoms. Symptoms Outer whorl of leaves wither and droop with yellowing and browning. The outer whorl of leaves remaining suspended vertically around the stem for a long time to form a skirt of dead leaves around the trunk (Plate31). Leaves break or buckle very close to their bases. Successively produced leaves are smaller and the crown is reduced to a mere handful of short erect yellow leaves (Plate 32). Apex of the trunk tapers. Drooped leaves fall off one by one leaving only a few smaller leaves at the apex.The newly formed leaves are pale and smaller in size. Finally smaller leaves wither and bud decays. Crown is easily blown off by wind. Rotting of the basal portion of the stem is very characteristic (Plate33). Brittle bark often gets peeled off in flakes leaving open cracks and crevices. Bleeding of reddish brown viscous fluid with the decayed tissues beneath. (Plate34) It is restricted to basal portion of the stem (0.1-1.5 m) from the base (Plate35). The internal tissues are discoloured , disintegrated and emitting a bad smell. Bole decays rapidly resulting in the formation of large cavities. Extensive damage of the root system following rotting and disintegration of cortical tissues. Necrosis of male flowers and poorly developed few female flowers in the inflorescence, arrest the development of bunches and barren nuts. Bracket shaped shiny waxy brown frutification of the fungus at the base of the trunk after the death of the palm (Plate 36, 37 ). Basal Stem Rot / Tanjore Wilt / Foot Rot / Ganoderma Wilt / Anabe Roga of Coconut Bleeding of reddish brown viscous fluid yellowing Exudation of reddish brown fluid

21. Causal Organism : Ganoderma lucidum , Ganoderma applanatum and G. boninense Spread of Disease Fungus is soil borne inhabiting in roots of dead as well as living woody plants in the soil. Prolonged drought, high soil temperature, low rainfall, extensive flooding, sandy or sandy loam soils, presence of hard pan in the sub-soil and neglected gardens are conditions favourable for the disease incidence Management practices Practice growing banana as intercrop in coconut.  Practice clean cultivation and burn off diseased plant pests. Isolate infected palms by making trenches of 1m depth and 0.5 m width around the palm at 1.5 m away from it. Completely remove dead palms and palms in advanced stage of the disease. Burn the boles and root bits of the palms Isolate the affected palm from the healthy ones by digging a trench of 1m deep and 50cm wide at 2.0m away from the bole of the infected palm Add 50 kg farmyard manure or green leaves per palm per year. Reduce fertilizer application to one fourth of the recommended dose Root feeding with Calixin (2 ml in 100 ml water) once in 3 months . Drench the basin with 40 litres of 1% Bordeaux mixture or 0.1% calixin (1ml/L) after soaking soil, at quarterly interval for one year Root feeding of 2 g Aureofungin -sol + 1g of Copper sulphate in 100 ml of water or Calixin 2ml in 100 ml water at quarterly interval Avoid flood irrigation or ploughing in infected gardens to prevent spread of inoculums and follow drip irrigation. Regularly irrigate basins during summer months or conserve moisture by coconut husk burial Apply neem cake containing Trichoderma @ 5kg /palm/year . Apply Trichoderma harzianum fortified in neem cake /compost / vermicompost / other organic wastes. BASAL STEM ROT / TANJORE WILT / FOOT ROT / GANODERMA WILT / ANABE ROGA OF COCONUT

22. Symptoms Characterised by emergence of shorter leaves with fascinated and crinkled leaves. The leaflets show severe tip necrosis and fail to unfurl . In many cases, it gives a choked appearance to the frond. Ultimately the affected palm dies.   Control measures Application of 50 g Borax at half-yearly intervals (Feb-Mar and Sept-Oct) along with recommended fertilizer in the basins will control the disease when it is in the early stage. In root wilt affected areas a dosage of 200 – 300 gm per palm per year is recommended. C rown   Chocking of Coconut

23. 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.   Control measures Removal of the older 2-3 disease affected leaves and spraying the foliage with 1% Bordeaux Mixture will check the spread of the disease. Leaf blight or Grey Leaf Spot of Coconut

24. Symptoms Palms of 20-40 year old are highly susceptible Appears on the leaflets of mature leaves of the outer whorls of palm Yellowish brown oval spots of 1-5 cm long with grey brown margins appear on leaflets (Plate23) The centre of the spots become greyish white, while the brown colour of the margins deepens Many spots coalesce to form larger irregular necrotic patches causing extensive leaf blight (Plate24) The fruiting bodies ( acervuli ) of the fungus appears as black minute dots / specks (Plate25) In advanced stages, the tips and margins of the leaflets dry and shrivel giving a burnt appearance (Plate26) Premature shedding of leaves and reduction in the number of leaves prolong the prebearing age of young palms Causal Organism Pestalotia palmarum Spread of Disease Spread is through air borne conidia. Disease intensity is severe during rainy season with low temperature and high humidity. Poor soil nutritional status, especially potash deficiency increases the disease incidence. Management Remove severely affected older leaves and burn Spray the crown with 1% Bordeaux mixture or 0.3% tilt (3ml/L) Apply higher dose of potash (25% extra) along with recommended dose of NPK Apply increased dose of farmyard manure and composted coir pith (@100 kg/palm/year) CGD, COD and their hybrids are tolerant Leaf blight or Grey Leaf Spot of Coconut

25. N ew coconut plantation at north farm is 5 years old. The coconut plantation consisted of around 496 growing seedlings planted along road side spaces. Out of these, approximately 70 % of newly planted coconut seedlings were observed to be infected by leaf spot disease caused by Pestaliopsis palmarum . The affected plants were severely infected with the disease with large spots visible from a long distance on almost dried leaves (Figure) and were dying. Copper oxy chloride ( Blitox 50 WP) was immediately sprayed @ 0.5 % along with NPK fertilizer and irrigation . Chlorothalonil was also good for it. Our careful attention and intervention saved the plantation from disaster. Management of Leaf blight or Grey Leaf Spot of C oconut caused by Pestaliopsis palmarum at North Farm, CRIJAF, Barrackpore

26. Symptoms First appeared in Tatipaka village of East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, following a cyclone in 1949 . Palms in the age group of 25 to 60 years are more susceptible. Development of an abnormally large crown with dark green inner leaves Higher yield is the precursor of disease incidence. Subsequently the crown becomes smaller in size producing progressively shorter leaves. The stem begins to taper. The leaves give a fascinated appearance due to improper unfolding of leaflets . The affected tree produces smaller bunches with atrophied barren nuts. The causal agent is suspected to be Phytoplasma . Tatipaka   Disease of Coconut

27. Symptoms Affect palms of all ages especially on outer whorls of mature leaves. Burnt or dried appearance of outer whorls of leaves (Plate 27 ). Reddish brown oval to irregular sunken lesions with dark brown margin on leaves ( Plate 28). Salmon or reddish brown fruitification of the fungus as dots on the affected leaves (Plate29 ). Lesions coalesce resulting in leaf blight (Plate30 ). Disease progress to mid whorl of leaves causing premature drying and falling of leaves. Causal Organism Colletotrichum gloeosporioides . The disease is air borne Management Remove and destroy severely affected leaves. Spray 1% Bordeaux mixture or Mancozeb 0.4% (4g/L) on outer and mid whorls of leaves at 45 days intervals. In severe case, spray 0.3% (3ml/L) Propiconazole (Tilt) / Hexaconazole ( Contaf ) at monthly interval. ANTHRACNOSE AND LEAF BLIGHT Burnt or dried appearance Reddish brown sunken lesions premature drying

28. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT OF COCONUT

29. Killing of pathogens with other living organism Kills by competition, mycoparasitism and antibiosis (toxin or enzymes) PROCESS: Biocontrol agents are isolated from nature, tested on pathogens in lab, mass cultured on cheap media, tested viability and then applied in field. Examples in jute: Fungi – Trichoderma spp., Aspergillus niger , PGPR – Promotes plant growth, suppresses disease, e.g., Fluorescent Pseudomonas BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

30. BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

31. BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF TOMATO DAMPING-OFF WITH TRICHODERMA (GLIOCLDIUM) VIRENS

32. LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST Prevention is always better than cure.

33. THANK YOU Suggestions are welcome at rkde @rediffmail.com or 9883429344