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Incidence and severity of Botryodiplodia die-back in plantations of Albizia falcataria in Kerala, India
, K. Sankaran V.
Published in
1988
Volume: 24
   
Issue: 1
Pages: 43 - 58
Abstract
Botryodiplodia die-back of Albizia falcataria caused by Botryodiplodia theobromae is characterized by the development of a stem canker, gradual die-back of shoots and, finally, death of trees due to girdling of stems by progressing cankers. In pathogenicity tests of the isolate, only wound inoculation resulted in cankers similar to those observed in the field. Of the five plantations surveyed, die-back was recorded in four; the occurrence appeared to be closely associated with fire, debarking by animals and cultivation of tapioca (Manihot utilissima) amongst trees in plantations. During the 2 years' observation, the initial incidence of about 50% declined to 13-25% while the severity, initially medium, then remained low throughout. Regular observations in a plot with moderately severe infection indicated that the high incidence of die-back occurred during the dry-warm period, but during or just after the monsoon it declined as some of the affected trees recouped partially or completely with the overall incidence gradually declining from 94.3% in June 1983 to 69.8% in May 1985. However, the percentage of mortality of the affected trees increased from 8.3% to 30.3% during the same period. This is the first record of large-scale mortality of A. falcataria due to parasitism by B. theobromae. The paper discusses the management implications of Botryodiplodia die-back in Albizia plantations in Kerala. {\textcopyright} 1988.
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