Studies on almond blight in Kashmir

185 Pages·2012·0.77 MB·English

by  Muzafer Ahmad Beig

STUDIES ON ALMOND BLIGHT IN KASHMIR

MUZAFER AHMAD BEIG

Division of Plant Pathology
Faculty of Post- Graduate Studies

Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural
Sciences and Technology of Kashmir
2003
STUDIES ON ALMOND BLIGHT IN KASHMIR

MUZAFER AHMAD BEIG

THESIS

SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF POST- GRADUATE STUDIES

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IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN AGRICULTURE

(PLANT PATHOLOGY)

2003

Registration No. 97/ A/ 52/D
SHER-E-KASHMIR
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY OF KASHMIR
Shalimar - 191 121, Srinagar (J&K)

Certificate-i

This is to certify that the thesis entitled “Studies on almond blight in
Kashmir”, submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for award of the
degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture (Plant Pathology), to the Faculty
of Post- Graduate Studies, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences
and Technology (Kashmir), is a record of bona fide research carried out by
Mr. Muzafer Ahmad Beig (Registration No. 97/ A/ 52/ D) under my
supervision and guidance, and no part of the thesis has been submitted for any
other degree or diploma.
It is further certified that all the assistance and help received during the
course of investigation have been fully acknowledged.

(Dr. G. M. Beigh)
CHAIRMAN
Advisory Committee

Endorsed :

Professor & Head
Division of Plant Pathology
SHER-E-KASHMIR
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY OF KASHMIR
Shalimar - 191 121, Srinagar (J&K)

Certificate-ii

We, the members of the Advisory Committee of Mr. Muzafer Ahmad
Beig, a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture (Plant
Pathology), have gone through the manuscript of the thesis entitled “Studies on
almond blight in Kashmir” and recommend that it may be submitted by the
student in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

CHAIRMAN : (Dr. G. M. Beigh)
Professor and Head
Division of Post Harvest Technology
SKUAST (K), Shalimar

MEMBERS :

(Dr. N. A. Mir)
Ex-Director Resident Instructions
SKUAST (K), Shalimar

(Dr. F. A. Banday) (Dr. Shafiq A. Wani)
Associate Professor Professor and Head
Division of Pomology Division of Plant
SKUAST (K), Shalimar Breeding & Genetics
SKUAST (K), Shalimar
(Dean P. G. Nominee)
SHER-E-KASHMIR
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY OF KASHMIR
Shalimar - 191 121, Srinagar (J&K)

Certificate-iii

This is to certify that the thesis entitled “Studies on almond blight in
Kashmir”, submitted by Mr. Muzafer Ahmad Beig (Registration No. 97/ A/
52/ D) to the Faculty of Post-Graduate Studies, Sher-e-Kashmir University of
Agricultural Sciences and Technology (Kashmir), in partial fulfilment of the
requirements for award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture
(Plant Pathology), was examined and approved by the Advisory Committee and
external examiner on .....................

Chairman External Examiner
Advisory Committee

Professor & Head
Division of Plant Pathology
SKUAST (K), Shalimar (J&K)

Director Resident Instructions-cum-
Dean Post- Graduate Studies
SKUAST (K), Shalimar
In the Name of Allah, The most Beneficient
and Merciful

I humbly express my obeisance to bountiful Allah for granting me the sincere and
valuable guidance of the most enlightened, assiduous and impeccable scientist Dr. G.M.
Beigh Professor and Head, Division of Post-Harvest Technology, S.K. University of
Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar. I gratefully rejoice
to express with profound sense of gratitude, his in-depth research vision, refined way of
constructive approach and sustained encouragement during the course of my studies.
I am highly thankful to Dr. N. A. Mir, Ex. Director Resident Instructions, Dean
Post-Graduate Studies and Late Dr. A. R. Bhat, Professor and Head, Division of
Pomology, Dr. Shafiq A. Wani Professor and Head, Division of Plant Breeding and
Genetics, and Dr. F. A. Banday, Associate Professor-cum-Sr. Scientist, the gracious
members of my advisory committee for their valuable suggestions, constructive criticism
and encouragement.
I also avail this opportunity to sincerely thank Dr. Mustaq Ahmad Professor and
Head, Division of Plant Pathology for valuable suggestions and co-operation extended as
and when needed during the entire period of my studies.
I express my utmost regard to Dr. G.H. Dar, Dr. M. Y. Gani, Deputy Directors of
Research and Dr. Qazi Nissar Ahmad, Assistant Professor, Division of Post-Harvest
Technology, who helped me a lot in preparation of this manuscript.
Thanks are also due to my worthy teachers in Division of Plant Pathology,
Pomology and Entomology, who contributed a lot in one way or the other during the
course of my studies.
The guidance rendered by Mr. Athar Ali Khan, Assistant Professor, Division of
Agri. Statistics and Economics for using the appropriate software programme for
computation and analyses of the research data is gratefully acknowledged.
I am grateful to my colleagues especially Mr. Shahzad Ahmad, Mr. Hakeem
Khursheed, Mr. Nissar Ahmad Khan, Dr. M. Ashraf Khan, Dr. N. A. Munshi, Dr. G.M.
Dar, Mr. M. Azam and Dr. Vinay Sagar for their help and moral support during the
period of present studies.
I shall always remember administrative and technical staff especially Mr. G. M.
Kumar and Zahid in the Division of Plant Pathology for their assistance during the course
of my research work.
Provision of computer facilities alongwith the services of concerned computer
analyst, Mr. Feroz Ahmad under the superb guidance of Dr. Gul-Zafar, Assistant
Professor, Division of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Shalimar is greatly acknowledged.
I am indebted to Dr. P. N. Chowdhary, Principal Scientist-cum-Head, Indian Type
Culture Collection (IARI) New Delhi for confirming identification of the fungal
pathogens.
I shall remain highly obliged to SKUAST-K, Shalimar for sponsoring me under
Faculty Improvement Programme.
Special mention about my revered father who has always been a great source of
inspiration and help to me. The great task of accomplishing zenith of studies is entirely
credited to his noble personality. His sad demise at the fag end of these studies has left me
shaken and the void thus created is very difficult to be filled.
I do not find words to express deep sense of gratitude to my mother for her constant
encouragement during my studies. Her prayers, affection, blessings and love have always
stood by me.
My costliest treasure, daughters Mahliqa and Mehreen, my son Master Zaid
and my nephews Dawar and Yawar had to miss my attention when it was badly needed.
However, their innocent prayers were always at my back, thus highly acknowledged.
I shall forever remain indebted to my father-in-law, brother and sisters for their
persuasion and constant encouragement.
My cordial thanks are due to my friends especially, Er. Ab. Majid Wani, Er. Fayaz
A. Khan, Dr. Javeed A. Khan and Dr. Tasawoor A. Kanth for their moral support.
I shall be failing in my duties if I do not record my gratitude to my spouse for her
cooperation, forebearance and endurance. She had to bear the major part of homely
responsibilities during the hectic days of my studies.
Last but not the least, I acknowledge the efforts put in by Nazar-ul-Islam of
‘Computer Access’ Shalimar for printing of this manuscript meticulously.

Place: Shalimar, Srinagar (Muzafar A. Beig)
Dated:
ABSTRACT

An extensive survey conducted in two major almond growing districts of Kashmir
during the year 1998 and 1999 revealed the prevalence of almond blight diseases in both
the districts with average incidence and intensity of 25.25 and 12.81 per cent, respectively.
The disease incidence and intensity was significantly higher during the year 1999 in
comparison to 1998, probably due to more congenial environmental conditions in late
spring of 1999. Symptoms initiated as minute water soaked (0.1 cm) lesion at the base of
leaf petiole in the month of June, extended along the axis of twig at a faster rate and
attained an average length of 21.3 x 1.8 cm in the month September. The lesion not only
increased in length but also griddled the twig at the point of initiation resulting in complete
brightening of the twig above the griddled area. The causal fungus was identified as
Cryptosporiopsis sp. and some physiological studies revealed that the fungus grows and
sporulates best on acidifies potato dextrose agar (pH 5.0) at an optimum temperature of 25
± 10C. The fungus perpetuates through acervuli on intact twigs, pruned snags, leaf petioles
and buds. No perfect state fruiting body or any viable over-wintered dormant mycelium of
the fungus was observed during the study. Recovery of partially blighted twigs and
absence of any viable over-wintered mycelium reveals the annual nature of disease and
each year requires fish infection for spread of disease. The fungitoxicants tested for their
efficacy against the spore germination and their field evaluation against the disease proved
significantly effective as compared to check. Systemic fungitoxicants, in general and Ergo-
sterol biosynthesis inhibitors (ESBI’s) inparticular proved significantly superior over non-
systemic fungitoxicants both in vitro and in vivo. Among the systemic fungi toxicants
dodine followed by penaconazole proved superior over others in inhibiting 50 per cent
conidial germination at a least concentration of 9.14 and 19.83 ppm, respectively. Among
non-systemic fungitoxicants copper oxychloride –1 proved superior at 35.17 ppm. Field
experimentation on fungicidal efficacy also yielded the superiority of systemic
fungitoxicants over non-systemic fungitoxicants ones. Adoption of autumn pruning
followed by sprays of fungitoxicants in May and June gave best disease control of 71.1 –
93.3% against the autumn pruning followed by one spray in May (39.2 – 59.9%). Disease
tolerance of varying degree has been observed under natural conditions in the available
almond germplasm. Exotic variety “Merced” showed 100 per cent tolerance to the disease.
However, this needs further invertigation so as to develop resistant cultivar against the
disease.
CHAPTER-I
INTRODUCTION

Almond (Prunus amygdalus Batsch.), belonging to family Rosaceae is
native to mountainous areas of Central Asia : India, Pakistan and Iran
(Rugini and Monastra, 1991). It is cultivated mainly in countries lying
between latitude of 36o and 45 oN. From Asia, almond cultivation spread to
other countries like USA, Spain, Greece, Australia and South Africa. The
USA and Spain alone produce more than 50 per cent of total world
production (11, 53, 159 metric tonnes) followed by Italy, China and Iran.
Nutritionally, almond kernel is a rich energy source (598 calories per 100 g
fresh weight). It contains protein (19%), fat (54%) and carbhydrates (21%)
(Kester and Asay, 1975). Almond kernals are highly delicious. Its oil is used
in confectionery and also for pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations.
In India, almond is mainly grown in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal
Pradesh over an area of 24,000 ha yielding approximately 600 tonnes of
mature kernels (Lele et al., 1981). The almond is a foreign exchange earner
commodity. Over 90 per cent almond cultivation is confined to Kashmir
valley and is grown over an area of 17582 ha whereas Ladakh and Jammu
contribute an area of 5 and 472 ha, respectively. About 10890, 2 and 9
metric tonnes of almond are annually produced from Kashmir valley, Ladakh
and Jammu, respectively (Anonymous, 2001). Besides almond growers,
thousands of people are directly or indirectly involved with almond trade.
Almond is a high valued crop and is also used as a filler crop in saffron
fields. However, its yield has shown a declining trend during the recent past.