Fungal diseases hit Himachal apple orchards

A dreaded fungal disease called morssinona has affected most of the apple orchards in Himachal Pradesh. This has affected the yield and quality of the fruit, while another disease called scab has resurfaced after many years in the some pockets of the apple belt of the hill state.

According to the Director (Horticulture) Gurdev Singh, “the morssinona fungal disease has spread rapidly due to excessive rains, which were preceded by heavy rains in May and June.

This fungal disease is causing premature leaf-fall, much before the ripening of the fruit. Leaf-fall usually takes place in November, but it is started in majority of the orchards since July. Due to poor photosynthesis process due to fewer leaves on the trees the quality and quantity of the fruit is adversely affected resulting in poor returns for the farmers.

Apple harvest began in July in the lower altitudes and will end in early October in the highest regions of the state. But farmers are worried and are frantically spraying fungicide to avoid further spread of the disease.

There are also reports of another fungal disease called scab emerging after many years from some pockets of the apple belt. This disease wreaked havoc in the mid 1980s and was brought under control with great difficulty by farmers.

The state horticulture department has deputed five teams of experts to visit the scab-affected areas.

Singh said 37 tonnes of additional fungicides have been procured and despatched to the affected areas to contain both the morssinona and scab diseases.