Plantation Crops

Non parasitic maladies

Brown bast – Taping panel dryness (TPD)

Cause:
A physiological disorder, mainly due to intensive tapping. High yielding clones are more vulnerable. .

Symptoms
Partial drying up of tapping cut (initial symptom) with the outer latex vessel drying up first (No production of latex).
Light brown discoloration of the attacked portion (Hence TPD is also known as brown bast) Tumors can be seen on the panel area.Drying up entirely and cessation of latex flow.

Control
1) Remove affected tissues and
2) Rest the trees without tapping from 3 to 12 months,
3) Low frequency tapping is also recommended and
4) Proper manuring