Mulberry Pathology

SCIENTIST:

1. Dr. S.K. Dutta, Scientist-C (Sectional Head)

OBJECTIVES:

Management of major mulberry diseases of the eastern and north eastern region of the India

ACHIEVEMENTS:

q Developed chemical control measures against powdery mildew, fungal leaf spot and leaf rust diseases.

q Developed botanical and biological control measures against powdery mildew, Myrothecium leaf spot and bacterial leaf spot diseases.

q Developed Forewarning calendar of mulberry disease of the eastern region of India.

q Collaboratively (with the Dept. of Zoology, Visva-Bharati) developed a plant secondary product – ‘Acaciasides’, which significantly reduced the root knot nematode and tukra infestations in mulberry.

RESOURCES:

· Hot Air Oven

· Autoclave

· Laminar air flow

· Stereoscopic microscope (LEICA make)

· Litz Diaplane Microscope (LEICA make)

· Shaker (Rotary, 36 no. capacity)

· Thin Layer Chromatography unit

· Centrifuge (Remi-make)

· Electronic balance.

· Cooling incubator

· Incubated shaker

ONGOING PROJECTS:

1. PRP3352: Development of weather based forewarning system of mulberry diseases (Oct. 2005-Sept.2010)

2. PIE: 3319: Screening of germplasm and raising of progeny towards development of disease resistant mulberry against bacterial leaf spot (BLS) (May2005-Apr.2009)

CONCLUDED PROJECTS:

1. Studies on incidence of mulberry diseases and extent of damage (1990-1996)

C Powdery mildew, fungal leaf spot, bacterial leaf spot, and leaf rust were identified as major foliar diseases in the Murshidabad, Malda and Birbhum districts.

C Powdery mildew disease severity observed highest during November - December, fungal and bacterial leaf spot during July-August and leaf rust during February- March.

2. Control of mulberry diseases (1990-1996)

C 162 germplasm and 10 high yielding mulberry genotypes were screened against major foliar diseases. Genotypes Ankara, Goshoerami, Ohshima, Kukoso were found resistant against leaf spot, Ankara, Kosen, M .laevigata, and Thiland lobed resistant to powdery mildew, Berhampore-A, Kattaneo, Kokuso, M. laevigata, Leimonciena, Moretiana, M. tiliefolia and Serpentina to leaf rust.

C High yielding variety S799 found resistant to powdery mildew.

C Increase of number of irrigation, six times pruning in a year as well as ground level pruning reduced powdery mildew.

C Application of NPK and Tracel-2 (a commercial formulation of micronutrients) reduced fungal leaf spot disease significantly.

C ‘Paras’ at 1250ppm as well as Kinetin at 5ppm were effectively controlled powdery mildew.

C Carbendazim (Bavistin) at 0.075% was found effective for control of leaf spot followed by Bayleton 0.05%. Similarly, Carbendazim 0.15% was found best fungicide for control of powdery mildew followed by Dinocap, Likewise, Copper oxy chloride (0.2%) and Mancozeb (0.4%) were found best for control of leaf rust.

C Addition of Triton X-100 (0.06%) increased the efficacy of fungicides.

3. PRP3156: Field evaluation of acaciasides for the control of mulberry root knot and other diseases. (collaborative with Dept. of Zoology, Visva Bharati) [Apr’2000 – Mar’2003]

C Foliar application of 0.2% Acaciasides reduced 43% root gall and 21% tukra incidences.

4. PRP003: Control of mulberry diseases through botanicals and bio-control agents. [Oct’1998 – Sept’2003].

C 5% (w/v) aqueous extract of Allium sp., Eucalyptus sp. and 0.5% Eucalyptus oil reduced the Myrothecium leaf spot severity more than 40%

C 2.5 & 5% aqueous Eucalyptus extracts & 1% Eucalyptus oil reduced Bacterial leaf spot disease severity.

C 5% (w/v) aqueous extract of Cassia tora reduced the powdery mildew disease severity 42%.

C Four mulberry phylloplane bacterial strains viz. MPB –3, 6, 7 & 8 reduced Myrothecium leaf spot disease severity significantly.

C Five mulberry phylloplane bacterial strains viz. MPB-2, 3, 6, 7 & 8 reduced the disease severity from 5.67 to 1.94, 2.00, 2.39, 0.80, & 1.50 PDI respectively.

C Four mulberry phylloplane bacterial strains [Acc. no. MPB 2, 3, 6 and 7] reduced P. mildew disease severity 13. 35 PDI to 6.52, 9.32, 5.87 & 9.79 PDI respectively.

C Three bacterial strains isolated from decomposed plant materials were controlled the disease Myrothecium leaf spot >35% at 14 days after spray.

C Four bacterial strains isolated from decomposed plant materials reduced powdery mildew 14.89 PDI to 8.72, 3.66, 7.31, & 8.75 PDI respectively.

6. PRP-3314: Field evaluation of botanicals and bio-control agents against major mulberry diseases

Ø Foliar spray of botanical - I reduced BLS disease severity 35.41% and increased leaf yield 16.29%.

Ø Foliar spray of botanical - II reduced P. mildew disease severity 67.97%, and increased leaf yield 15.41%.

Ø Foliar spray of biocontrol agent reduced BLS, MLS and P. mildew 33.67%, 32.36% and 47.86% and increased leaf yield 20.25%, 18.75% and 16.31%