Assessment of tar spot disease in Dalbergia latifolia and their management

Abstract

Dalbergia latifolia (Rose wood) is important valuable timber yielding tree species with good suitability to Agro-forestry. For raising plantation and to meet the demands of farmers good quality seedlings plays an important role. During nursery stages, huge mortality occurs due to incidence of diseases, which affect intern quality regeneration and growth of seedlings. In order to meet the growing demand for Dalbergia latifolia, healthy seedling production in nurseries is essential. Hence, the present study was carried out to assess the disease incidence in Dalbergia latifolia at nursery stages. Seedling leaf tar spot disease of Dalbergia latifolia was observed at Sirsi, College of Forestry nursery in August to November 2017 in Central Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. The causal organism was identified as Phyllochora dalbergiae. In nursery, highest disease incidence (70.18%) and Per cent Disease Index (56.81%) was recorded in November with the evidence of premature defoliation with an indication of periodical progression of disease magnitude. In in-vivo disease management, seedlings were treated with seven fungitaxicant chemicals. Among them Carbendazim (0.2%) and Propiconazole (0.1%) showed highest disease reduction of 30.09 per cent and 25.42 per cent, respectively.