Control of bud rot in oil palm
UNDER GOOD management conditions, oil palm starts yielding from the third year of planting.
The trees are subject to bud rot infestations during the monsoon. The disease affects seedlings and adult palms of all ages in the field.
Climatic conditions
In infested trees, the young leaves in the inner whorl dry up, leading to death of the palm. Disease spread and severity is dependent on the climatic conditions.
Oil palms, which are damaged by rhinoceros beetle, are also prone to this disease.
Disease symptoms
Young palms are more susceptible to this disease. Due to bud rot disease, young leaves in the inner whorl turn yellow, which subsequently turn brown.
The infested spear rots and hangs down among the healthy fronds.
This spear will come out easily on pulling. A big crater is formed in the centre of the crown.
Disease management
— Leaves should be removed completely and the crown should be drenched with 1 gm of Carbendazim in 1 litre of water.
— In adult plantations, the disease can be controlled by removing all the infected spear leaves.
— Care should be taken to avoid damage to the growing point, while removing the infected tissues.
— Drench 1 to 2 litres of 0.1 per cent Carbendazim solution slowly to allow percolation to the lower portion of spear up to the meristem.
— Cover the treated portion with a polythene cover to avoid washing of the chemical by rain water or to prevent accumulation of excess moisture in the cut portion.
M. KOCHU BABU
M.V. PRASAD
& P. SAMPATH KUMAR
National Research Centre for Oil Palm, Pedavegi Andhra Pradesh
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