Nauni varsity issues advisory for management of diseases in Apple

The department of Plant Pathology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni has issued advisory for the management in Apple. The widespread rains, the epidemiological conditions (temperature, humidity and wetness) are congenial for occurrence and spread of leaf blight/spots/blotch and soil borne diseases in apple.

In the orchards where these diseases were prevalent during last year, the spray of fungicides as per spray schedule given by the University and Directorate of Horticulture should be followed. Farmers are advised to continuously monitor the status of these leaf spots/ blights/ blotch, white root rot, collar rot, and need based application of fungicides should be done as per the recommendations in the spray schedule. Therefore, the following advisory is issued to the farmers: Remove the weeds in and around the orchards.

For the management of Alternaria leaf spots /blight and Marssonina leaf blotch, the farmers are advised to spray, if needed Metiram (600gm/200 L of water) as the protectant. But where these diseases are severe, the farmers are advised to spray alternatively the formulations consisting of Lustre 5% SE (160ml/200 L of water) or Cabrio Top 60WG (200gm/200 L of water) or Shamir (500ml /200 L of water) or Luna Experience (126ml/200 L of water) or Avtaar (500gm/200 L of water) is recommended.

For the management of White root rot, drench the tree basin area 3-4 times, with carbendazim (200gm / 200 L of water) with the onset of the rainy season to a depth of 15-20 cm.

For the management of Collar rot, drench the whole tree basin at a distance of 30 cm from the tree trunk with mancozeb (600gm / 200 L of water) during the rainy season.

For the management of Silver leaf canker or other cankers, spray within 24 hours after harvest with Cuprofix DISPRESS (1200gm/200L of water).

It is further advised to avoid Mixing of any other pesticide/chemical/micro-nutrient/growth regulator/hormone with the recommended pesticides to avoid phytotoxic effects, russeting and other disorders. When necessary, these may be sprayed separately. Farmers are also advised to report the symptoms of the diseases with photographs  and queries, if any on hodmpp@uhf.ac.in