Diseases of Fruit Plantation Medicinal and Aromatic Crops

Diseases of Plum

Introduction
Plum (Prunus spp.) is a delicious stone fruit of temperate regions, which ranks next to Peach in importance and production. The pleasantly blended pulp and juice of this fruit is liked by most people. Because of large varietal diversity, it can be grown in both temperate and subtropical areas. In India, plum cultivation was started by the europeans in 1870 in kulla valley and shimla hills, which subsequently spread to other temperate regions of the country.
Two species of Plum are commercially cultivated viz. Prunus domestica (European plum) and P. salicina (Japanese plum).
IMPORTANCE & USES:
Plum fruit tastes sweet and the skin may be particularly tart. It is juicy and eaten fresh or used for jam-making or other recipes. Plum juice can be fermented into plum wine and when distilled, this produces a brandy known in Eastern Europe as Slivovitz, Rakia, Tzuica or Palinka. Dried plums are also known simply as prunes, as if 'prune'. Plums and prunes are known for their laxative effect. This effect has been attributed to various compounds present in the fruits, such as dietary fiber, sorbitol and isatin. Prunes and prune juice are often used to help regulate the functioning of digestive system.
Dried, salted plums are used as a snack, sometimes known as salaito or salao. Various flavors of dried plum are available at Chinese grocers and specialty stores worldwide. They tend to be much drier than the standard prune. Cream, Ginsing, Spicy, and Salty are among the common varieties. Licorice is generally used to intensify the flavor of these plums and is used to make salty plum drinks and toppings for Shaved Ice or baobing.Prune kernel oil is made from the fleshy inner part of the pit of the plum.
The plum is infected by the following diseases

1. Plum pocket - Taphrina maculans.
2. Wilt - Verticillium albo-atrum (Reinke & Berth)
3. Leaf curl - Taphrina deformans (Berk & Tul)
4. Bacterial canker - Pseudomonas syringae pv.syringae (van Hall).
5. Bacterial leaf spot - Xanthomonas syringae
6. Line pattern - Plum American line pattern virus.
7. Plum mosaic - Plum line pattern virus & ring spot virus(Kennedy et al)
8. Creamy-white spot - Creamy white spot virus.