Diseases of Fruit Plantation Medicinal and Aromatic Crops

Root parasite

Balanophora indica, the root parasite belongs to the family Balanophoraceae, occurs on roots of coffee plant growing at higher elevations above 1000 m MSL. Infected plants gradually decline in their vigour.

• The parasite occurs in the form of root stock composed of tuberous out growths on the lateral roots of coffee plants during the South-west monsoon.
• In the early stages of development the tubers are small round bodies hidden inside the soil.
• Flower heads begin to appear by November.
• The infected coffee bushes do not show clear cut symptoms of attack externally except for general unhealthy appearance & low productivity.
Management
• Collect the tubers by digging the soil and all tubers should be collected before flowering and destroyed.