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Major pests affect on Cardamom

 

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Cardamom Thrips (Sciothrips cardamom)

 

There are more than 6000 thrips species sucking the life from plants all over the world. Adults are very small,without the use of a magnifying lens, they resemble tiny dark threads.

Symptoms of damage

Extremely active, thrips feed in large groups. They leap or fly away when disturbed. Thrips attack cause Cardamom panicles to  become stunted, shedding of flowers and immature capsules thus reducing the total number of capsules formed. Infestation causes formation of corky encrustations on pods resulting in their malformed and shrivelled condition. Such pods lack their fine aroma and the seeds within are also poorly developed. Both adults and the wingless larvae(nymphs) are attracted to white, yellow and other lite coloured blossoms and are responsible for spreading tomato spotted virus and impatient’s necrotic spot virus.

Identification of pest

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1.Eggs: kidney shaped lays singly in the tender part of the leaf sheath and racemes.

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2.Adult: is minute, dark greyish brown with fringed wings.

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Wingless larvae feed on plant sap. After two or more nymphal stages, many thrips drop to the soil to pupate. Emerging adults fly to the plant and repeat the cycle. Check your plants for damage.  Clusters of the pests congregate at places where leaves are attached to stems.

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Management

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Thrips management is a mater of garden maintenance. Reduce places where thrips may breed, remove plant debris from the ground while it is still green. Dry mulch will not attract thrips; green mulch will.

Blue sticky traps are helpful more monitoring adult populations.

Beneficial insects such as minute pirate bugs(thrips predators, feed on eggs and larvae before they can become adults), Lady bugs, Lacewings, etc., attack and destroy all stages of thrips.

Beauveria bassiana is an entomopathogenic fungus that attacks a long list of troublesome crop pests like thrips, aphids, whitefly, spider mites, mealybugs, root aphids and more!. Weekly application can prevent insect population explosions and provide protection equal to or better than conventional chemical pesticides. This naturally occurring mycoinsecticide  works on contact and thorough coverage is required to achieve control. The applied spores attach to the insects, germinate and penetrate through the insect cuticle (skin). The fungus then grows rapidly within the insect, causing mortality in 7-10 days.

 

Soap solution will work fast on heavy infestations. A short lived natural pesticide, soap works by damaging the outer layer of soft-bodied insect pests, causing dehydration and subsequent death. Apply 100 ml soap in 5L water, when insects are present. Repeat every 7-10 days as needed.

 

Apply horticultural oils like neem oil or fast acting botanical insecticides to give good results. Pyrenthrin Garden Insect spray is a powerful botanical insecticide derived from Chrysanthemum flowers, is a potent and fast acting formula.

 

Regulate shades in thickly shaded area.

Shoot, panicle and capsule borer

 

 

Stem Borer (Dichocrocis punctiferalis)

 

Long, pale greenish with a pinkish colour dorsally
medium sized moth (22-24 mm); the wings are pale yellowish with black spots on the wings..

 

Symptoms of damage

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1. Early stage of the larva bores the unopened leaf buds and feeds on the leaf tissue. They also bore the panicles leading to drying up of the portion from the affected spot.

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2. Bores Immature capsules and feed on the young seeds inside, rendering the capsules empty.

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3. Late stage larvae bore the pseudostem and feed the central core of the stem resulting in drying of the terminal leaf and thus produce characteristic 'dead heart' symptom.

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4. Oozing out of frass material at the point of tunnelling is the indication for the presence of larva inside the plant parts.

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5. The incidence of this pest is noticed throughout the year but they occur in enormous number in four periods, December-January, March-April, May-June and September-October and their abundance synchronizes with the panicle production,

fruit formation and new tiller production.

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Identification of pest

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Egg: is pink, oval, flat and lays singly or in group on the tender part of the plant

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Larva: is long, pale greenish with a pinkish  body covered with minute hairs.

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Pupa: Pupation takes place in loose silken cocoon in  larval tunnel.

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Adult: is a medium sized moth; the wings are pale yellowish with black spots on the wings.

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During day time adult moths rest on the lower surface of the cardamom. They may be collected with insect net and killed.

The practice of removing the tillers showing 'dead heart' symptoms should be carried with due care.

Tillers may be removed if the attack is fresh as indicated by extrusion of frass.

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Capsule borers: Jamides sp.

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Symptoms of damage

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Caterpillars bore and feed on the inflorescence, flower buds, flowers and capsules. Affected capsules become empty with a big circular hole, turn yellowish – brown which decay and drop off in the rainy season.

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​​​​Identification of pest

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Eggs: Spherical, greenish white lay on the panicles.

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Larva: Flat, trowel shaped covered with dense hairs covering all over the body.

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Pupa: Small and brownish in colour and pupates in the debris near the panicle.

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Adult: The wings of moth are bluish with metallic lusture on the upper surface and bordered with a white thin line and black shade

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Beetle borer: Onthophgus spp.

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Symptoms of damage

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Larva makes the bore hole which is neat and circular. When attack is on young immature capsules, they put forth matured appearance, decay and drop off.

Adults beetle bores the flowers and feed on tissues

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Identification of pest

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Adult: small, dark brown, cylindrical beetle with short thick erect hairs covered all over body.

Their  elytra are hard and shiny.

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Organic Management-Stem Borer/Capsule borer/ Beetle borer

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Judicious shade regulation.

Spray Beaveria Bassiana, an Entomopathogenic fungus along with neem oil thoroughly, covering young tillers, panicles  and upto two third portion from the base of plants. Infected insects show loss of appetite,sluggishness, blackening at the site of infection.

 

Hairy caterpillars: Eupterote cardamom.

 

Symptoms of damage

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These appear sporadically in enormous populations at intervals of several years and cause heavy damage to the foliage. Caterpillars are gregarious in habit and they congregate on the trunks of shade trees during day time and drop down on the cardamom plants during night time. They fed voraciously on leaves and defoliating the whole cardamom plants. Usually the damage is observed during October-December.

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​Identification of pest

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Eggs: lay on undersurface of the leaves of shade trees.

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Larva: Robust, bluish black with pale brown head, white hairs.

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Pupa: Pupation takes place in soil

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Adult: Large moth, pale yellow with wavy lines and a series of spots near the outer margin of wings

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Management

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Hairy caterpillar incidence can be checked by lopping off and burning branches of shade trees in which eggs are laid. Gradual elimination of shade trees favoured for egg laying will reduce the incidence. Caterpillars that congregate at the base of shade trees can be collected and killed. Moths can be attracted to light during night and by installing light traps, can be collected and killed.

Spray Beaveria Bassiana, an Entomo pathogenic fungus along with neem oil thoroughly, covering young tillers, panicles  and upto two third portion from the base of plants. Infected insects show loss of appetite, sluggishness, blackening at the site of infection.

 

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Shoot fly: Formosina flavipes

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Symptoms of damage

 

Larvae feed on the growing shoot of the young cardamom suckers

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Identification of pest

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Eggs: cigar shaped and white colour and is laid in between leaf sheath and pseudostem

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Management

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Remove the affected shoots at ground level and destroy them.

Spray Verticillium lecanii (an entomopathogenic fungus) along with neem oil thoroughly, covering young tillers, panicles  and upto one third portion from the base of plants.

 

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White flies: Trialeurodes cardamom

 

White flies are very small  sap sucking insects, often found in thick crowds on the undersides of leaves. When infested plants are disturbed, great clouds of the winged adults fly into air. Both nymphs and adults damage plants by sucking the juice from the new growth causing stunted growth, leaf yellowing and reduced yields. Plants become weak and susceptible to disease.

They developed resistance to many synthetic pesticides making chemical control difficult.

 

Like aphids whiteflies secrete honeydew, so leaves may be sticky or covered with black sooty mold. They are also responsible for transmitting several plant viruses.

 

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Identification:

 

Adults are moth- like insects with powdery white wings and short antenna. They are easily recognized and often found near the top of plants or on stem ends. Wingless nymphs are flattened, oval and almost scale-like in appearance. After the first instar, or crawler stage, they settle down and attach themselves to the underside of leaves and begin feeding.

There are many generations per year. Whiteflies develop from egg to adult in approximately 25 days at room temperature. Adults may live for one or two months. Eggs hatch in 5-10 days and first instar nymphs, which resemble small mealy bugs and are called crawlers, move a short distance from the egg before flattening themselves against the leaf to feed.

 

All of the immature stages are easily overlooked. They are usually pale, almost translucent, and blend with the colour of the leaf to which they are attached. Superficially they are similar to several scale insects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Management

 

Yellow sticky traps are helpful for monitoring and suppressing adult populations.

 

Beauveria bassiana is an entomopathogenic fungus that attacks a long list of troublesome crop pests, even resistant strains! Weekly application can prevent insect population explosions and provide protection equal to or better than conventional chemical pesticides.

 

Apply horticultural oils like neem oil or fast acting botanical insecticides to give good results.

 

 

Cardamom aphid: Pentalonia nigronervosaf.Caladii

 

Symptoms of damage

 

Nymphs and adults suck up plant sap.

Colonies of aphids are seen under concealed conditions inside leaf sheaths of the older

pseudo stems. Heavy infestations will cause leaves to curl, wilt or yellow and stunted plant growth. A general decline in overall plant vigor will also be noticed.

The aphids act as a vector of the mosaic or 'Katte' virus of cardamom.

 

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Identification of pest

 

Wingless aphid is dark brown, pyriform. Winged aphids have wings, prominent black veins.

As they feed , aphids secrete large amounts of a sticky fluid known as honeydew. This sweet goo drips onto plants, attract ants and promoting a black sooty mold growth on leaves.

 

Management

 

Removal of Colocasia and other hosts in the vicinity of cardamom plantation is recommended.

Remove partly dried and decayed pseudostems which harbour the colonies of aphids to

reduce aphid population.

 

Beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and lacewings are natural predators.

 

Beauveria bassiana is an entomopathogenic fungus that attacks a long list of troublesome crop pests, even resistant strains! Weekly application can prevent insect population explosions and provide protection equal to or better than conventional chemical pesticides.

 

Soap solution will work fast on heavy infestations. A short lived natural pesticide, soap works by damaging the outer layer of soft-bodied insect pests, causing dehydration and death within hours. Apply 100 ml soap in 5L water, when insects are present. Repeat every 7-10 days as needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apply horticultural oils like neem oil or fast acting botanical insecticides to give good results. They are derived from plants which have insecticidal properties, have fewer harmful side effects than synthetic chemicals and break down more quickly in the environment.

 

Do not over water or over fertilize with high Nitrogen level fertilizers. Use fertilizers which release nutrients slowly.

 

 

Root grubs: Basilepta fulvicorne, Holotrichia serrate

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Among the three species B. fulvicorne is found to cause more damage in cardamom tracts.

 

Symptoms of damage

 

The grubs feed on the roots in the form of irregular scraping.

In advanced stages entire root system is found damaged resulting in drying and rotting

depending on the season of attack. In the severely infested plants, leaves turn yellow and dry.

 

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Identification of pest

 

Grubs: Short, stout, 'C' shaped, pale white in colour.

Adult: Beetles are shiny, metallic blue, bluish green, greenish brown or brown.

 

Management

 

Collect the beetles using hand nets during peak period of emergence i.e., during April-

May and kill them.

Beetles can be seen resting on the leaves during day time. The time of spraying  is to be synchronized with the emergence of adults and egg laying.

 

Yellow sticky traps placed around objects in crop field will capture many adult flies before they can mate and lay eggs.

 

Applying beneficial nematodes (EPN) is effective in getting rid of  the larvae.

 

Combined drenching of Beauveria bassiana and Metarrhizium anisopliae is very effective to control root grubs in  soil.

 

Light raking of soil before the insecticide application is essential for effective control of root grubs.

 

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Spider mites

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These tiny sucking pests can quickly wreak- havoc on any plants, especially in hot and dry conditions, where their natural enemies have been killed off by insecticide use. Spider mites are not true insects, but relatives of spiders, ticks and scorpions. Adults are reddish brown or pale in colour, oval shaped and very small.

Mites live in colonies, mostly on the underside of leaves, and feed by piercing leaf tissues and sucking up the plant fluids. Feeding marks show up as patterns of  light dots on the leaves. As feeding continues, the leaves turn yellow and may dry up and drop off. Large populations are often accompanied by fine webbing under leaves and along stems.

 

Spider mites are wind surfers. They disperse over wide areas riding their webbing on the breezes. Careful containment and disposal of infested plants is crucial.

 

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​​​​​​​Management

 

Prune leaves, stems and other infested parts of plants well past any webbing and discard it in the trash (not in compost piles).

 

Chemical pesticide use actually encourages the spread of spider mites by killing the beneficial insects that prey on them. Mites are also known to develop quick resistance  to various pesticides. Beneficial insects such as ladybugs, lacewings and predatory mites are important natural enemies.

 

Beauveria bassiana is an entomopathogenic fungus that attacks a long list of troublesome crop pests, even resistant strains! This is highly effective as a biological insecticide. Weekly application can prevent insect population explosions and provide protection equal to or better than conventional chemical pesticides. Use pure neem oil along with Beauveria bassiana to spray on all parts of the plants, including the underside of leaves.

 

Water stress makes both trees and garden plants more susceptible to mite infestations. Make sure your plants are properly watered.

 

Management strategies must be taken into account the fast development time of this pest, especially during warm weather when eggs are laid down continuously. Just targeting  the adults will do little good if eggs and larvae survive. Repeat treatments are almost always necessary.

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CARDAMOM DISEASE MANAGEMENT

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Disease fungi take their energy from the plants on which they live. They are responsible for a great deal of damage and are characterized by wilting, scabs, moldy coatings, rusts, blotches and rotted tissue.

Cardamom is reported to be infected with several diseases of fungal origin, of which the major fungal pathogens are Phytophthora meadii (capsule rot, leaf blight), Phythium vexans (rhizome rot and seedling rot), Phaeodactylium alpiniae (leaf blotch),

Phakospora elettriae (leaf rust) and Colletotrichum falcatum (brown spot).

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Capsule rot / azhukal disease

 

Panicle & capsule rot

Major disease causing pathogen for capsule/panicle rot and clump rot is phytophthora meadii.

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Disease symptoms:

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The disease appears during the rainy season. On the infected leaves, water soaked lesions appear first followed by rotting and shredding of leaves along the veins.

The infected capsules become dull greenish brown and decay. This emits a foul smell and subsequently shed.

Infection spreads to the panicles and tillers resulting in their decay.

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Favourable spreading conditions:

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The disease spreads through soil, water and wind. Continuous rain fall and high relative humidity increase the rate of spread.

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Clump rot or rhizome rot

 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Early symptoms on leaves appear as pale yellow colour, partial of leaf margins and withering.

Rotting or decay starts at the collar region and it spreads to rhizomes and roots and toppling of tillers.

Affected tillers can be pulled out with little force and the discoloration of the basal portion of clump can be seen.

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Favourable spreading  conditions:

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High humidity, high soil moisture, cloudiness and low temperatures.

The disease spreads through soil, water and wind. Continuous rain fall and high relative humidity increase the rate of spread. Below 24° C for few days are ideal for infection and development of disease. Crowded seedlings, dampness due to high rainfall, poor drainage and excess of soil solutes hamper plant growth and increase the pathogenic damping-off.

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Integrated management of Rhizom Rot of cardamom using Trichoderma Sp.

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Rhizom Rot caused by Pythiumvexans, Rhizoctoniasolani and Fusariumoxysporum are  major diseases of Cardamom, causing about 30% of crop loss per annum. Fungicides have been extensively used for controlling this disease. But,  fungicidal control has its own constraints such as the cost factor, environment pollution, residual effect in crops, etc.

A field study, following standard agronomical practices proved that the native strains of antagonists viz., Trichodermaviridi/T.harzianum with a selected fungicide significantly reduced the rhizome rot caused by pythiumvexans, rhizoctoniasolani, fusariumoxisporum, phitofhthorameadii etc.

First round of application of the bio-agent (T.viridi/T.Harzianum) and a fungicide was done before the onset of monsoon rains. For this, a foliar spray of Akomin 0.3% and 1% T.viridi/T.harzianum drenching on basel level was suggested. Thirty days later, second application of the same formula was repeated.

 

 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Effect of Pythium on cardamom rhizome.

 

As a prophylactic measure:

April- May

Apply COC (300 gm/100L), Hexaconosol 200ml/100 and Akomin (Potassium phoshonate)/Sanchar 40 (an aqueous solution of Potassium phosphonate)

After 15 days, apply Trichoderma drench and Akomin spray.

After 30 days  drenchTrichoderma and thorough spray of  Pseudomonas.

Note: Potassium phosphonate is the potassium salt of phosphonic acid, widely used to control Phytophthora fungus and Downy mildew fungus.(this got systemic effect against fungal disease)

Active Ingredients:
Mono- and di-potassium salts of Phosphorus Acid

This product is formulated to target only pathogenic fungi. It will not harm beneficial bacteria or mycorrhizae fungi

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Fusarium Oxysporum

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Fusarium oxysporum is a pathogenic fungus, can spread through air and soil. The soil in Idukki district is predominantly acidic in nature, causes fusarium fungus to spread easily from place to place. F. oxysporum plays the role of a silent assassin. The pathogenic strains of this fungus can be dormant for 30 years before resuming virulence and infecting a plant. Fusariumis spread by water, insects and garden equipment.

The disease severity may assume an epidemic form occationally and extensive damage occurs in affected cardamom plantations.

 

 

Disease fungi  enter through the roots and interfere with the water conducting vessels of the plant. As the infection spreads up into the stems and leaves it restricts water flow causing the foliage to wilt and turn yellow.

The Fusarium disease appear during monsoon season in form of water soaked lesions on the leaves and capsules, which later form dead areas surrounded by yellow halo and leaves rot which spread along the veins. In severe stages, the infection spreads to panicle and tiller and in extreme cases to rhizome rot and entire plant perishes.  Mature capsules infection become shrivelled on drying. Plants of all ages are infected but disease incidence is noticed mainly on fruit bearing plants. Biocontrol

During the past decades, chemical fungicides have been the main strategy to manage Fusarium infections. However, because of their non-targeted and negative effects on humans and the environment, beneficial bacteria are increasingly being tested and used as substitutes.

In vitro and greenhouse studies showed that biocontrol agents such as Trichodermaviride, T. harzianum, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens  could effectively inhibit the pathogen and reduce the severity of the disease.

Beneficial strains of Bacillus rank high for their potential as BCA in part, not only for their PGPR traits, but also because they are spore-forming bacteria, which makes them easy to formulate and preserve as inoculants. With their ability to produce a range of metabolites that stimulate plant growth and reduce pathogen attack, either by suppressing fungal growth or inducing the plant immune system against pathogens, members of Bacillus and allied genera are preferred over other types of BCA (Bio Control Antagonists).High nitrogen fertilizers may increase susceptibility to the disease. Test your soil and use a slow-release, organic fertilizer in the  garden.

 

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Symptoms of occurrence:

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The obvious symptoms of Fusariumin  cardamom are root tip rot, leaf yellowing, pseudostem rot, panicle blight and rhizome rot.

The green house and field control trials showed that  this types of diseases can be brought under control by T.viridi/T.harzianum drench in soil and by thorough spray of Pseudomonas flurescence and Bacillus subtilis.

Chemical controls:

fungicides such as

Carbendazim 200gm/100L water, Or Thiophanate methyl200gm/100L water.

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Bavistin (Carbendazim 50% ;systemic fungicide) and Indofil M-45(Mancoeb 75% W.P; contact fungicide), 100 gm each/100L water.

 

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Leaf Blight

 

FungulLeaf blight diseaseis caused by the fungus called Helminthosporiumturcicum Pass.

Spotted leaves occur when fungal spores in the air find a warm, wet, plant surface to cling on. As soon as that microscopic spore gets comfortable in its new home, sporulation (the fungal method of reproduction) occurs and the tiny brown fungal leaf spot begins to grow. Soon the circle grows large enough to touch another circle and now the fungal leaf spot looks more like a blotch. Eventually the leaf turns brown and falls to the soil where the spores sit and wait for the next available warm, wet, plant surface so the fungal leaf spot process can begin again.
 

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Preventing Plant Leaf Spots.

Leaf blight symtoms are charecterised by the presence of long, elliptical, and necrotic lesions on the leaf lamina. The size and shape of the lesions vary depending on the level of host resistance. There are a few easy steps you can take to prevent the problem in your garden or on your houseplant. The causal fungus need two things to flourish; moisture and poor air circulation. For your houseplant, spotted leaves can be prevented by watering the soil and not the foliage. Leave enough space between your pots for good air circulation.

In the garden, water in the early morning so the moisture will evaporate from the leaves. Closely packed foliage should be thinned.

The infection starts on the young middle aged leaves in the form of elongate or ovoid, large brown coloured patches which soon become necrotic and dry. These necrotic dry patches are seen mostly on leaf margins and in severe cases the entire leaf area on one side of the midrib is found affected.

The disease which appears during mid- monsoon, becomes severe during late monsoon periods.

Intermittent rains and prevalence of misty conditions are favourable to its spread.

A traditional treatment method for leaf blight fungus is by spraying baking soda (Sodium bicarbonate), 2.5ml/4L water.

Bacterial Leaf blightis  caused by bacteriaand is a destructive disease on rice crops, grain sorghum, etc. Belong to the species of Xanthomonas.  Antogonistic bacterial strains like Bacillus subtilis is effective for leaf blight. 

As a prophylactic measure:

Spray Bordeaux mixture (1%) during May-June, before the commencement of monsoon.

In severe cases, repeat the spray on Aug-Sept.

Once the disease appears in the field:

Spray the combination of carbandazimandmancozeb (100 gm each) or carbendazim 200 gm/100L water.

Chenthal disease

The disease is seen in almost all areas of cardamom cultivation. Initial symptoms appear as water soaked lesions on young leaves which, later elongate to form parallel  arranged streaks and turn to yellowish brown to orange red in colour.The central portions become necrotic.The disease intensity is found to be severe in open areas where shade is inadequate. The cause of  'Chenthal' is  by Corynebacterium sp.

The disease which appears during mid- monsoon, becomes severe during late monsoon periods.

 

Favourable conditions

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Intermittent rains and prevalence of misty conditions.

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Sypmtoms:

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Streaks on leaf and leaf blight.

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Anthracnose (capsule brown spot)

 

Colletotrichum falcatum fungus is causing anthracnose in cardamom.

Species of Colletotrichum have the potency to infect diverse hosts as they can easily adapt to new environmental conditions.

Infected plants develop dark, water soaked lesions on stems, leaves or fruit. The centres of these lesions often become covered with pink, gelatinous masses of spores especially during moist, warm weather. After drying, spots appear prominent on capsules. Anthracnose can reduce a beautiful harvest into rotted waste in just a few days.

Cool wet weather promotes its development, and the optimum temperature for continued growth of the spores is between 75-85˚F. Moisture is required for development and germination of the fungus as well as for infection of the plant. It is spread by wind, rain, insects and garden tools.

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Bio Control:

Anthracnose can be controlled by spaying strains of Bacillus subtilis on the affected plants.

Chemical control: Spray 0.2% Bavistin(Carbendazim) thoroughly, repeat this after 15 days.

Copper sprays and Sulphur sprays also bring some good results.

 

 

Leaf rust:

 

There are more than 5,000 known species of rust on plants. Common rust (Phragmidium spp.) is a fungal disease (Cardamom necrosis/nilgiri necrosis). It is most often found on mature plants where symptoms appear primarily on the surfaces of lower leaves.

Early on, look for white, slightly raised spots on the undersides of leaves and on the stems. After a short period of time, these spots become covered with reddish-orange spore masses. Later, leaf pustules may turn yellow-green and eventually black. Severe infestations will deform and yellow leaves and cause leaf drop.The affected plants are stunted and fail to bear the panicles and capsules.

 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Bio control:

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Apply strain of Bacillus subtilis on affected plants.

Use a thick layer of mulch or organic compost to cover the soil after you have raked and cleaned it well. Mulch will prevent the disease spores from splashing back up onto the leaves.

Chemical Control:

Hexaconosol, 100 ml/100L water Or, Carbendazim + Mancozeb 200 gm/ 100 L water.

Copper sprays or Sulphur sprays to prevent infection of susceptible plants.

‘Katte disease’ (Mosaic or Marble disease)

Plant viruses can be difficult to detect as symptoms look similar to many nutrient deficiencies and vary depending on the age of the plant when infection occurs.

• Yellow, white or green stripes/ streaks/ spots on foliage (the first visible symptom appears on the youngest leaf of the affected tiller; Later the stripes run parallel to the vein from the midrib to leaf margin)

• Wrinkled, curled or small leaves.

• Disease is systemic in nature and it gradually spreads to all tillers in a clump.

• Stunted growth and reduced yields, Katte infected plants continue to survive for a long time.

 

Aphids, leafhoppers, whiteflies and cucumber beetles are common garden pests or vectors that can transmit this disease.

There are no cures for viral diseases such as mosaic once a plant is infected (Fungicides will not treat this viral disease!). As a result, every effort should be made to prevent the disease from entering your garden.

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