MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC CROPS (2+1)

Pests and diseases

Pests

The plant is hardy and, therefore, free from any of the serious pests. However, it is sometimes attacked by leaf-eating cater¬pillars and wingless hoppers. In case of severe attack, the crop may be sprayed with Endosulphan (3 ml/l) to control them. The fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis) and root-grubs are the other pests reported. Ekalux (2 ml/l) can be sprayed to control the fruit borer. Chloropyriphos may used to control grubs.

Diseases
Powdery mildew is noticed during prolonged dry and warm period, Bavistin (1 g/l) may be sprayed to control this disease.
Collar rot or Fusarium wilt can be overcome by keeping the field clean and planting the crop in a well drained soil. Dipping the roots of the seedlings in a 0.1 % solution of Bavistin for 1 hour and drenching the seed-beds with 0.25% of copper oxychloride or 0.1 % of Bavistin solution can control the disease.
Sometimes the plants are attacked by mosaic, caused by three different viruses, which leads to stunted growth and chloratic leave Such plants are better removed and destroyed.

Nematodes
The occurrence of the chlorotic stunt disease and its association with the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica), and the wilting of plants due to M. incognita have also been reported.