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Author: | V.S. Thakur |
Keywords: | apple, integrated disease management, fungicide |
DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2008.769.23 |
Abstract:
With the increase in area under apple cultivation along with growing of certain susceptible varieties, the numbers of new diseases have appeared and the already existing diseases have become more destructive.
Over 96 diseases have been reported to affect the apple crop resulting in a total loss of about 30-40%. Technologies have been evolved to minimize the onslaught of diseases through fungicidal spray programs, which have increased the cost of production and reduced the cost benefit ratio.
Amongst the fruit crops, apple utilizes about one-third of the fungicides.
The magnitude of fungicides used can be gauged from the fact that in one season 9-10 sprays are required to control the diseases entailing an expenditure of Rs 22000-25000/ha.
Organic (protective) fungicides continue to dominate the scene and shift towards systemic or therapeutic (EBI) fungicides for utilization in curative and monitored spray program is significant.
Diseases like powdery mildew, scab, blotch leaf and fruit spots and post harvest rots are managed very well by modern fungicides.
The need in fact is to integrate, correlate, interpret and transmit available information on pathogen perpetuation, weather monitoring and disease forecasting which would help for decision making in the control of apple diseases as need-based, environmentally safe and in economically judicious manner.
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