Coconuts are by far one of the most important fruits in India. Around 12 million people are dependent on coconut farming for their livelihood and the contribution of the coconut farming sector is huge. However, lately, a deadly disease called Coconut Stem Bleeding has been affecting the cocooned life of coconut plants. Take a stroll through the story as Tanisha Saxena uncovers the facts of the disease with a group of experts in the field.
Coconuts, in India, symbolise a gamut of things. Religious events begin with the act of breaking open a coconut. During the Chath festival in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, women offer coconuts to God as a custom, and in fact, the cremation ceremonies involve pouring coconut water over the bones or using coconut shells and husks to light a funeral pyre. And it is the lifeline of Indian foods, without which one cannot relish the taste.
In essence, coconut is a vital fruit as far as the socio-cultural dimensions of the country are concerned. However, today this coconut tree is suffering from very serious diseases like stem bleeding, basal stem rot, bud rot, yellowing, and many more. Out of these, stem bleeding is a lethal disease that is severely affecting the coconut growers in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. It is primarily soil-borne and spreads via spores.
Dr. Navin Kumar Mogha, Department of Chemistry, Inha University, South Korea, elaborated on the disease: “The stem bleeding disease of coconut was first discovered in 2009 in Hainan, China. It is caused by a plant-pathogenic fungus named Thielaviopsis paradoxa. This disease is distinguished by the oozing of a dark reddish-brown liquid from cracks or wounds in the bark, covering the stem with a black layer of the fluid ranging in thickness from inches to several feet.The best time to plant coconuts is from July to November, when the chances of this disease’s progress are highest.
The severity of the disease can be understood by turning affected coconut trunks hollow due to the decay of inner tissues in most advanced cases leading to premature drying and shedding of the outer whorl of the leaves, nut fall, and adverse bunch production.
Environmentally sustainable methods that can be used for the prevention and treatment of this disease include the soil application of neem-based cakes and the use of Trioderma-based biological control agents.”
According to a study conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in Palakkad, Kerala, stem bleeding incidence was high in the Eruthempathi, Vadakarapathi, Kozizijampara, Nallepalli, Perumatti, Pattanclereri, and Ozhalapathi areas of the Palakkad district. On close observation, it was noticed that the number of plants with a stem bleeding incidence was higher in the plots with waterlogged conditions compared to other plots. Stem bleeding incidence was found to be high in palms below the age of 20 years.
Percentage of palm mortality was high in the case of palms belonging to the age group of 15-20 years in all places surveyed.The disease index calculated to quantify the disease incidence showed that the attack is moderate, with a disease index between 2.39 and 8.01. The first case of stem bleeding disease in coconuts was reported in India in 1922.
The Director, Horticulture, Mr. Chelliah Sellamuthu, who keeps working throughout to maintain and upkeep the planting of the annuals, perennials, and seasonals in the NDMC region of Delhi, spoke with us about the stem bleeding of coconuts and why it happens.
He stated, “Such deadly diseases mostly appear owing to poor management and poor care of coconut trees. The majority of the time, they are to blame for the condition and its spread. Moreover, soil health is often neglected and poorly managed with little or no application of organic manures and fertilizers. As a result of this negligence, the coconut palms do not get enough nutrients or adequate conditions for growth. Hence, the steam becomes weak and diseases attack.”
Further, Dr. Vivek Choudhary, Scientist Incharge, Tughlaqabad Biodiversity Park, Delhi, said, “Stem bleeding disease caused by fungus is a really serious concern for the farmers in our country. Novel biological threats are emerging every day due to climate change and heavy pesticide loads. We should promote more bio-based pesticides, integrated pest management to control the diseases otherwise we may create another major imbalance in the ecosystem.”
While there are several studies being conducted by the agricultural departments across the country, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University lists out some key points about the symptoms and management of the disease.
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