Dieback disease
Why in news?
Dieback disease recently affecting neem trees in Telangana has prompted urgent research by the Forest College and Research Institute (FCRI) in Mulugu.​ It primarily affects plants, causing progressive death of shoots, branches, roots, or twigs starting from the tips.​
Causes
Fungal pathogens like Phytophthora, Botryosphaeria, and Eutypa species trigger most cases, often entering through wounds or stressed tissues.
Environmental factors such as drought, winter injury, soil compaction, or nutrient deficiencies exacerbate the issue, while bacteria, nematodes, and insects contribute indirectly.​
Symptoms
- Affected areas show wilting, browning, and curling leaves; dark, sunken cankers on stems; gum oozing from branches; and eventual defoliation or bark cracking.
- In trees like neem or mango, symptoms worsen during rainy seasons, mimicking drought stress.​
Reports in India
- First reported in India during the 1990s near Dehradun, Uttarakhand, it recently devastated neem trees in Telangana, prompting research by the Forest College & Research Institute in Mulugu.
- The fungus spreads via soil movement, water, or root contact, thriving in warm, moist conditions and causing near-total fruit loss in severe infections.​
Management
- No cure exists, but prevention involves hygiene like cleaning tools and footwear, improving drainage, avoiding root damage, and using fungicides such as carbendazim or mancozeb for high-risk crops.
- Early pruning of infected parts and stress reduction through proper watering enhance plant resilience.​
