Epidemiology and management of bacterial blight of pomegranate
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Date
2014
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Punjab Agricultural University
Abstract
Bacterial blight of pomegranate caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae has been observed as a serious impediment in the cultivation of pomegranate in Punjab. The disease initiated in June. Symptoms appeared as small, circular to irregular, water-soaked spots on leaves, flowers and fruits. On fruits, the spots developed into typical cankers with cracks on the necrotic areas. The bacterium produced pale yellow, circular, convex, slightly raised, opaque and mucoid colonies on nutrient agar medium. The bacterial cells were straight rods, Gram-negative and motile. The pathogen successfully established on all the inoculated plant part viz. leaves, flowers, twigs and fruits. Per cent disease index and infection rate were high, when inoculations were carried out in the month of July than in the months of June and August. Weather parameters like mean maximum and minimum atmospheric temperature, relative humidity and rainfall influenced disease progression significantly. None of the strains screened against this disease was found resistant. The strains expressed moderate to highly susceptible reactions. Four sprays of blitox + streptocycline on the pruned plants starting from mid June to end July at 15 days interval proved effective against bacterial blight of pomegranate. Kocide + Streptocycline was the next best treatment in reducing the per cent disease index.
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disease