SANDALWOOD SPIKE DISEASE.pptx

About diseases management

1. SANDALWOOD SPIKE DISEASE

2. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION SYMPTOMS TRANSMISSION MANAGEMENT

3. INTRODUCTION Sandalwood botanically is Santalum album. It’s a semi root parasitic tree and a source of the East Indian sandalwood and oil. Sandalwood is one of the expensive wood in the world. Major constraint sandalwood production is sandalwood spike disease

4. INTODUCTION Sandalwood spike disease is also called as spike disease, pendulous spike disease and withches broom. Casual agent: phytoplasma (MLO) Vectors : leaf hopper – Jassus indicus [ C oeldida indica ] Nephotettix virescens Moonia albimaculata The disease was first reported from Coorg district of Karnataka state in 1903 by Barban

5. Phytoplasma are obligate bacterial parasites of plant phloem tissue Phytoplasma were discovered in 1967 by Japanese scientists who termed them mycoplasma-like-organism. MLO size in the host ranges from 60-750nm. The common form is ellipsoid. It belongs to genus Candidatus phytoplasma Domain : Bacteria

6. SYMPTOMS Sandalwood spike disease is characterized by chlorosis , extreme reduction in leaf size. Stiffening and reduction of internode length. In advanced stage the entire shoot gives the appearance of a spike inflorescence. Spiked plants do not bear flowers or fruits. Affected plants show bushy appearance and witches broom symptom.

7. SYMPTOMS Virescence – green coloration of non green parts of the plants like stem Bolting – growth of elongated stalks. Formation of bunchy fibrous secondary roots Reddening of of leaves and stems Yellowing, decline and stunting of plants Phloem necrosis Spiked trees die within 1-2 years of visible symptoms.

8. TRANSMISSION Spike disease can be transmitted through grafting and even through haustorial connection of infected plants to a healthy host It is transmitted by insect vectors like Leaf hopper – Jassus indicus [ Coeldida indica ] Green leafhopper - Nephotettix virescens Moonia albimaculata

9. MANAGEMENT Basic field sanitation and removal of infected plants from the field. Application of plant growth promoting microbes. Proper management of insect vectors. Heat therapy and chemical treatment using arsenic , benlate and tetracycline. Use of tissue culture to create disease free superior genotypes. Employment of genetic transformation.