Indian Journal of Horticulture
Year : 1971, Volume : 28, Issue : 1
First page : ( 80) Last page : ( 85)
Print ISSN : 0972-8538. Online ISSN : 0974-0112.

Investigations on the Etiology and Control of Mango Malformation

Bindra O. S., Bakhetia D.R.C.

Department of Zoology—Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana

Summary

Studies on the etiology and control of mango malformation were carried out by conducting experiments with plants in screen-houses as well as in the field. Application of N: P: K:: 9:3:3 did not reduce the incidence of malformation, indicating that the disease is not due to imbalanced nutrition. Inoculations of plants with bud-mite from malformed panicles did not induce malformation and control of the bud-mite through sprays of dicrotophos and phorate on grown-up trees failed to reduce the extent of malformation. These findings suggest that the disease is not due to the toxin of the bud-mite and that the mite did not act as a vector. Grafting coupled with complete eradication of bud-mite by spraying dicrotophos/phorate resulted in malformation in a high percentage of plants indicating that a graft-transmissible pathogen may be involved. Pruning alone and coupled with sprays of an acaricide and a fungicide have shown some promise in reducing the incidence of the disease.

Top