University Issues Urgent Advisory for Apple Growers
Scientists at Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, have issued a fresh advisory urging apple growers to strictly follow the recommended fungicide spray schedule to prevent the spread of diseases in orchards. The advisory comes in response to widespread rainfall and favorable epidemiological conditions that have raised the risk of outbreaks.
Disease-Prone Conditions Trigger Warning
According to the university's Department of Plant Pathology, persistent rains, combined with optimal temperature, humidity, and prolonged leaf wetness, have created conditions conducive to the outbreak of leaf blight, leaf spots, leaf blotch, and soil-borne diseases. Orchardists whose orchards were affected last year are particularly advised to adhere closely to the advisory.
Scientists emphasized the need for continuous monitoring of leaf spots, blight, blotch, white root rot, and collar rot, along with need-based application of fungicides as per the spray schedule. Growers are also advised to remove weeds in and around orchards to reduce disease pressure.
Specific Fungicide Recommendations
For managing Alternaria leaf spot/blight and Marssonina leaf blotch, farmers are advised to spray Metiram (600 gm per 200 litres of water) as a protectant where required. In severe cases, alternative formulations include Lustre 5% SE (160 ml per 200 litres of water), Cabrio Top 60WG (200 gm per 200 litres of water), Shamir (500 ml per 200 litres of water), Luna Experience (126 ml per 200 litres of water), or Avtaar (500 gm per 200 litres of water).
To manage white root rot, growers should drench the tree basin area three to four times with carbendazim (200 gm per 200 litres of water) at the onset of the rainy season to a depth of 15-20 cm. For collar rot, drenching the entire tree basin about 30 cm away from the trunk with mancozeb (600 gm per 200 litres of water) during the rainy season is recommended. For silver leaf canker and other cankers, spraying Cuprofix DISPRESS (1,200 gm per 200 litres of water) within 24 hours of harvest is advised.
Strict Warning Against Mixing Pesticides
The scientists strictly advised growers against mixing any other pesticide, chemical, micronutrient, growth regulator, or hormone with the recommended pesticides to avoid phytotoxicity, russeting, and other disorders. Such products, if required, should be applied separately. Farmers are also asked to report disease symptoms, along with photographs and queries, to hodmpp@uhf.ac.in.
Economic Impact on Himachal's Apple Economy
With Himachal Pradesh's apple economy estimated to be worth around Rs 5,000 crore, disease-related losses can have a significant impact on both orchardists and the state's economy. The university's advisory aims to minimize these losses through timely and appropriate disease management measures.
