Investigation of Citrus Melanose Disease in Silanwali, Sargodha (Pakistan)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33866/phytopathol.037.01.1261Keywords:
Citrus melanose, Diaporthe citri, citrus disease, orchard management, irrigation, pruning, intercroppingAbstract
Citrus melanose deteriorates the marketable quality of citrus fruits; impacting the country’s economy to a considerable level. Sargodha is the citrus hub of the country where growers suffer from huge economic losses incited by citrus melanose. Assessment of factors affecting the citrus mealnose development in Silanwali would be effective to devise durable management practices for sustaining citrus industry in the region. The main objective of the survey is to explore the health status of citrus orchards regarding melanose disease. This study provides an area-specific survey for factor affecting mealnose and probable management tactics. A comprehensive survey was completed in Silanwali, Sargodha, to inspect citrus melanose regarding age of the orchard, type of irrigation (canal/tube well), intercropping, pruning practices, and weed infestation. The survey was based upon symptomology followed by laboratory analysis and farmer’s interviews regarding history and management options being practiced. The diseased samples were processed for fungal isolation and microscopic identification for confirmation before final data recording. The results indicated that the older orchards (25-35 years old) had a high disease incidence (30.1%), while in middle-aged (15-25 years old) and young orchards (5-15years old), about 20% and 15.4%, respectively. Tube well irrigation system data showed a 3.3% higher disease incidence over canal irrigation. A 1.6% rise in disease incidence was observed due to intercropping, weeds provide around 3.4% more incidence than incidence rate of intercropping does while pruning reduced up to 8% of the incidence of disease. PCA elucidated that weed, tube well irrigation, and intercropping was positively associated with diseases incidence while pruning and canal irrigation were negatively related, showing significant effects in reducing the diseases. The findings highlight the specific management options for mitigation of melanose. It could be concluded that sanitation, pruning and irrigation management are alternate options apart from fungicidal application to control melanose.References
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