Root Wilt Disease

Root Wilt Disease Latest News

Recently, phytoplasma-induced root wilt disease has destroyed large tracts of traditional coconut-growing areas in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala states.

About Root Wilt Disease

• It is caused by phytoplasma (bacteria) which is one of the most devastating diseases of coconut palms.
• Origin: It is classified as a non-fatal disease of coconut palm and was first identified more than a century and a half ago in Erattupetta in Kerala.
• It is not lethal; but it debilitates the production potential of the palms.
• Transmission: The disease spreads through insect vectors, aided by the movement of wind and uninterrupted stretches of coconut plantations. 
• The root (wilt) disease occurs in all major soil types but the spread is faster in sandy, sandy loam and alluvial soil.
• Factors accelerating spread: Erratic temperatures, especially extremes, and the rise of new sucking pests, particularly whiteflies, have significantly accelerated its spread.
• Symptoms of Root Wilt Disease
  • Tapering of the terminal portion of the trunk of Coconut Tree.
  • Reduction of leaf size
  • Abnormal bending of leaflets termed as flaccidity.
  • Flowering is delayed and yield is considerably reduced.
  • The characteristic symptom is the flaccidity of leaflets.
• Impact: The tree quickly becomes unproductive, sheds all its nuts, and assumes a distorted appearance.
• Management: Breeding resistant and tolerant varieties remains one of the most successful tools for managing phytoplasma.

Source: TH

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