Managing root wilt in betelvine
In India betelvine is grown
in an area of 40,000 hectares,
of which Tamil Nadu
occupies about 6,000 hectares.
The annual revenue earned
from the crop is estimated to
be around Rs. 700 crores. Betelvine
leaves are exported to
United Arab Emirates, Oman,
Bahrain, Egypt, Pakistan, Kenya
and Bangladesh.
In India annual betelvine
leaf production is estimated
to be around 25,314 million
leaves, of which Tamil Nadu's
production is around 11,766
million leaves.
Number of diseases
The crop is attacked by diseases
such as root wilt, leaf
rot, vine seedling wilt, bacterial
leaf blight, alternaria, anthracnose,
rust and powdery mildew.
Among these root wilt is a
serious infestation which
causes 30-100 per cent loss to
the crop.
Occurrences of root wilt
are found throughout the
year and are severe during
October to February. Varieties
Karoora Vellaikodi and
Pacchaikodi are most
susceptible.
Symptoms
The leaves and shoots turn
yellow, wither and finally dry.
In newly disease affected
plant vines, young shoots are
infested first. Gradually, the
disease spreads through older
roots and ultimately reaches
the foot or collar region of the
plant. In a disease affected
plant, the whole underground
portion gets completely rotten.
Management
-Growing moderately resistant
varieties of betelvine
such as Sirugamani-1
(SGM-1).
- Selection of disease free
seedling vines for planting.
- Treating the seedlings by
dipping them in Bordeaux
mixture (0.25 per cent) + 0.5g
streptocycline for 10 minutes.
- Drenching the soil with
0.5 per cent Bordeaux mixture
in the planted rows of
vines.
-Applying biocontrol
agents such as Trichoderma
viride at 1 kg mixed in 100 kg
of FYM + 10 kg neem cake
once in three months per year
to the vines.
- Spraying with 0.25 per
cent Bordeaux mixture at 15
days interval at four times to
check leaf rot.
-Avoid over usage of
groundnut cake in the vine
garden and remove all the infested
leaves fallen on the
ground. This practice should
be continued because these
leaves act as a source of disease
spread.
S. THIRUVUDAI NAMBI
N. RAJU & D. PACKIARAJ
TNAU, SUGARCANE RESEARCH STATION SIRUGAMANI, TAMIL
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