Management of citrus canker
CITRUS CANKER is one of the most feared of citrus diseases, affecting all types of citrus crops.
Severity of this infection varies with different species, varieties and the prevailing climatic conditions.
Disease symptoms: The disease is more commonly observed on leaves, twigs and fruits of acid lime than on sweet orange. Initially it shows up on leaves as small, raised translucent spots.
Water-soaked lesions
On fruits, the infection appears as water-soaked lesions, Cankered fruit drop prematurely. Oozing of gum from the cankered pustule, is common.
The disease is caused by a bacteria called Xanthomonas citri.
The bacterium reproduces in lesions on leaves, stems, and fruit. When there is free moisture on the lesions, the bacteria ooze out and can spread to new growth and other trees.
Wind-driven rain is the main dispersal agent, and strong winds aid in the penetration of bacteria through the stomatal pores or wounds made by thorns, insects, and blowing sand or soil.
Disease management
Pruning all the canker-infected twigs before monsoon and burning them and. 3 to 4 sprays of Bordeaux mixture 1 per cent in a year will help to reduce the disease load.
In case of sweet orange, three sprayings at monthly interval should be carried out of, streptocycline 0.01 per cent or 0.2 per cent Mancozeb in combination with 0.3 per cent copper oxychloride.
The first spray should be done when the fruits are marble-sized.
In case of acid lime, the spraying should be done four times at monthly interval in the monsoon and after the dead twigs have been pruned.
MALLIKARJUN KENGANAL HEMAVATI RENEBENNUR & A.S. BYADGI
Department of Plant Pathology
University of Agriculture Sciences, Dharwad
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