Development of Technology and Popularization of Biological Control Agents for Integrated Management of Coconut Leaf Rot Disease*

  • N. Srinivasan
Keywords: Coconut, root (wilt), leaf rot, biocontrol agents, mass production, rural people, articipatory programmes, technology demonstration, integrated disease

Abstract

Coconut is an important social crop of livelihood concern for millions of small- medium farmers. Leaf rot disease (due to a fungal complex-Colletotrichum gloeosoprioides, Exserohilum rostratum and Fusarium solani as major pathogens), in association with root (wilt), is a major problem of coconut in southern districts of Kerala besides certain districts in Tamil Nadu etc. Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) has evolved biological control technology for integrated management of leaf rot to improve the health of disease affected palms. Application of biocontrol agents in the disease affected areas was aimed for creation of widespread awareness on eco-friendly disease management, crop sustenance and in realizing human resource potential. Effective strains of biocontrol agents-Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma viride-were evolved, their multiplications in media including coconut water standardized and the antagonists’ processed into bioformulations (totally 2000 Kg. talc formulations evolved distributed/utilized). Coconut gardens and rural groups in various districts of southern Kerala (Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur), various blocks in Theni district besides specified blocks in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu could be selected. Through effective contacts with extension-developmental agencies, coconut Research & Development (R&D) meetings etc. reached out to rural people and implemented the technology of mass production-use of biological control agents, and knowledge imparted to rural people. Conducted trainings and allied programmes by on-campus trainings (396 beneficiaries), off-campus trainings (1854 beneficiaries), household/field contacts of rural people (689 beneficiaries) and other awareness programmes encompassing lectures, interfaces etc. (661 beneficiaries) and enlightened women, rural people, youths etc. representing various locations (totally 3600 beneficiaries in three years). Field demonstrations of disease management with biological control agents in coconut gardens (55 units) besides clusters-compact gardens (1850 coconut palms) were also done. Also, promotional materials were made available to various stakeholders. An innovative participatory programme implementation approach for technology transfer was the outcome of the work. Creation of widespread awareness, percolation of knowledge on biocontrol agents to women and other rural people could be visualized that would go a long way.

Author Biography

N. Srinivasan

Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Regional Station, Kayangulam, Krishnapuram – 690 533, Kerala, India

References

Anithakumari, P. and Manoj, S. 2004. Technology transfer of integrated root (wilt) management package-Experiences from the participatory programme on coconut. Journal of Plantn. Crops 32: 474-479.
Solomon, J.J., Nair, C.P.R., Srinivasan, N., Gunasekaran, M. and Sasikala, M. 1999. Coconut root wilt - the malady and remedy. Journal of Plantn. Crops 27 (2): 71 - 92.
Srinivasan, N. 1991. Occurrence of coconut leaf rot in relation to root (wilt) disease. Indian Coconut Journal 21 (10): 14 - 18.
Srinivasan, N. 2003. Efficacy of Pseudomonas fluorescens against leaf rot in root (wilt) affected coconut palms. Indian Phytopathology 56 (2): 210-211.
Srinivasan, N. 2004. Incidence of leaf rot disease in relation to root (wilt) in young coconut palms and fungi in petiole and lamina lesions. CORD 20 (2): 28-36.
Srinivasan, N. 2008. Management of coconut leaf rot disease, Technical Bulletin No. 58, Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod, India, 10 pp.
Srinivasan, N. 2010a. Production of value added coconut seedlings through biopriming with biocontrol agents against leaf rot disease. In: Abstracts, National Conference on Production of Quality Seeds and Planting Material – Health Management in Horticultural Crops”, 11-14 March 2010, New Delhi, p. 229.
Srinivasan, N. 2010b. Advances in coconut leaf rot disease and its management measures. In: Plant Diseases and its management (Ed) Trivedi, P. C.; Pointer Publishers, Jaipur, India, pp. 53-92.
Srinivasan, N. and Bharathi, R. 2006. Biocontrol agents against pathogens of coconut leaf rot disease. Journal of Plantn. Crops 34 (3): 494-499.
Srinivasan, N., Bharathi, R. and Prakash, V. R 2005. Biocontrol agents in integrated management of coconut leaf rot-root (wilt) disease – A guide for preparation and use of biopesticides, Training Folder, Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Regional Station, Kayangulam, Kerala.
Srinivasan, N., Chandramohanan, R. and Bharathi, R. 2006. Biocontrol agents in integrated management of coconut leaf rot disease – A guide for preparation and use of biopesticides, Training Folder, Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Regional Station, Kayangulam, Kerala.
Srinivasan, N., Chandramohanan, R. and Bharathi, R. 2007. Biocontrol agents in integrated management of coconut leaf rot disease – A guide for preparation and use of biopesticides, Training Folder, Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Regional Station, Kayangulam, Kerala.
Srinivasan, N. and Gunasekaran, M. 2003. Curative and prophylactic control of fungal leaf rot complex in root (wilt) affected coconut palms in India. CORD 19 (1): 17-26.
Srinivasan, N. and Gunasekaran, M. 1996a. Incidence of fungal species associated with leaf rot disease of coconut palms in relation to weather and the stage of lesion development. Ann. Appl. Biology 129 (3): 433 - 449.
Srinivasan, N. and Gunasekaran, M. 1996b. Field control of leaf rot disease of coconut with fungicides. CORD 12 (2): 34-42.
Srinivasan, N. and Gunasekaran, M. 2000. Leaf rot disease of coconut (Ed) Rohini Iyer, Technical Bulletin No. 38, Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod, India, 14 pp.
Srinivasan, N., Jyothi Rahna, S. and Anishkumar, V. K. 2006. Evaluation of fungicides and antagonistic organisms against major pathogens of leaf rot disease of coconut and their eco-friendly management. CORD 22 (1): 27-50.
Srinivasan, N., Koshy, P.K., Kamalakshy Amma, P.G., Sasikala, M., Gunasekaran, M. and Solomon, J.J. 2000. Appraisal of the distribution of coconut root wilt and heavy incidence of the disease in Cumbum Valley of Tamil Nadu. Indian Coconut Journal 31 (1): 1 - 5.
Srinivasan, N. and Sasikala, M. 2001. Spread and distribution of coconut root (wilt) disease in the region of Theni - Dindigul districts of Tamil Nadu. Indian Coconut Journal 31 (11): 7 - 11.
Srinivasan, N., Solomon, J.J., Sasikala, M., Gunasekaran, M., Geetha, L. and Rajeev, G. 2001. Managing coconut root wilt and leaf rot diseases. Indian Horticulture 46 (3): 28 – 29.
Published
2014-10-01
How to Cite
N. Srinivasan. (2014). Development of Technology and Popularization of Biological Control Agents for Integrated Management of Coconut Leaf Rot Disease* . CORD, 27(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.37833/cord.v27i1.123
Section
Articles