To equip scientists and officials working in estate and extension sector
Agency
KOTTAYAM, September 20 2022: Dr KN. Raghavan, Executive Director, Rubber Board inaugurated the International Workshop on ‘New Colletotrichum Circular Leaf Spot Disease Identification and Management’ at Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII), Tuesday. The five-day workshop will end on 24 September 2022.
In his inaugural address Dr Raghavan said that, with impact of climate change affecting rubber plantations across the world, onus should be as significant, exchange of ideas to keep the information moving through various channels so that rubber farmers are able to function in a disease free environment. He hoped that the workshop would create a healthy environment so that scientists could freely exchange ideas.
He also hailed the proactive role played by the Pathology Division of RRII in checking the spread of Colletotrichum Circular Leaf Spot Disease. A rubber tree comes to maturity after a prolonged immaturity period, and since prices keep fluctuating, the farmers ensure that diseases do not hinder getting good yield and better returns, and always stand one step ahead of the disease, he added.
Dr Abdul Aziz, Secretary General, IRRDB briefed on the context and importance of the Workshop and stressed the need to have a disease forecast mechanism. Dr Krissada Sangsing, Rubber Research Institute of Thailand, Dr MD Jessy, Director Research (I/C) and Dr Shaji Philip, Principal Scientist, RRII spoke on the occasion.
Dr KN Raghavan released the Workshop manual by giving a copy to Dr. Abdul Aziz.
The objective of the five-day workshop, organised in collaboration with the International Rubber Research and Development Board (IRRDB), is to equip scientists and officials working in the estate and extension sector with the necessary skills and know- how to manage the outbreak of the disease. Apart from India, delegates from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore are attending the workshop.
Circular leaf spot is a disease that affects rubber trees during monsoon periods. This disease is noticed during the months of April-May to November. The experiments conducted by the Indian Rubber Research Institute (RRII), found that this disease is caused by the fungus Colletotrichum.
The symptoms of this disease are similar to the disease that caused widespread leaf fall in countries like Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Thailand, which resulted in crop loss. The new leaves emerge on the trees after the natural defoliation; attain maturity during the months of April-May.
The disease appears on these leaves along with summer rain. Infected leaves turn pink and then will fall off. The infection is seen till the month of November. The disease is noticed in all the clones recommended by the Rubber Board for field planting.
The timely application of recommended fungicides can effectively control the disease.