Citrus greening

Citrus greening
    Symptoms
    • Stunting of leaves, sparse foliation and rapid die back symptoms.
    • Inter nodal length decreases and finally it looks like Witches broom.
    • Poor crop due to green and worthless fruits, only a portion of tree is affected, foliar chlorosis, infected plants give zinc deficiency appearance.
    • Primary source of inoculum: Infected plants, and planting materials
    • Secondary source of inoculum: Leaf hoppers as vectors.

    Epidemiology
    • Favourable weather conditions like warm weather, temperature of 30-32oC , RH 80-85% and presence of susceptible hosts.

    Management
    • Select disease free planting materials.
    • Uproot & burn the phytoplasma infected plants.
    • Proper N, P & K management increased K application.
    • Vector control- Spray with systemic insectisicide like Metasystax @ 2 ml/lt .
    • Antibiotic- Streptomycin spray @ 0.5gm/lt on the plant.

Last modified: Saturday, 21 January 2012, 5:38 AM