Horticultural crops such as mango, guava, citrus, apple, and papaya are highly profitable but vulnerable to various diseases and pests. Implementing Integrated Crop Disease Management (ICDM) ensures healthy trees, consistent fruit quality, and higher market value, while reducing chemical dependency.
1. Common Horticultural Crop Diseases
- Anthracnose – Dark lesions on fruits, stems, and leaves, common in mango and papaya.
- Powdery Mildew – White fungal growth on leaves and shoots of guava, grapes, and apples.
- Citrus Canker – Raised lesions on leaves, stems, and fruits of citrus trees.
- Fruit Rot (Botrytis or Phytophthora) – Causes fruit decay in guava, mango, and papaya.
- Leaf Curl and Blight – Deforms leaves and reduces flowering, common in mango and other fruit trees.
- Nematode Infestation – Root damage leading to reduced nutrient uptake and stunted trees.
2. Causes of Horticultural Crop Diseases
- Excessive Humidity and Rainfall – Favors fungal growth on fruits and leaves.
- Poor Orchard Sanitation – Infected leaves and fruits harbor pathogens.
- Susceptible Varieties – Some fruit cultivars are prone to specific diseases.
- Contaminated Nursery Stock – Early disease introduction through infected saplings.
- Pest Vectors – Insects like thrips and aphids transmit viral and bacterial infections.
3. ICDM Practices for Horticultural Crops
- Cultural Practices
- Use disease-free saplings and grafts.
- Prune and remove infected branches and fruits.
- Maintain proper spacing to improve airflow.
- Practice intercropping or crop rotation to reduce pathogen buildup.
- Biological Control
- Apply Trichoderma, Bacillus subtilis, and neem-based bio-pesticides.
- Encourage natural predators like ladybugs to reduce pest populations.
- Resistant Varieties
- Plant disease-resistant fruit tree varieties suitable for your region.
- Water and Nutrient Management
- Avoid waterlogging; maintain proper soil moisture.
- Use organic compost and bio-fertilizers to strengthen tree immunity.
- Chemical Management
- Targeted fungicides and bactericides for severe infections, following expert guidance.
- Vector Management
- Monitor and control insects like thrips, aphids, and mealybugs using eco-friendly methods.
4. Benefits of ICDM in Horticultural Crops
- Healthier trees with improved fruit yield and quality.
- Reduced losses due to fungal, bacterial, viral, and nematode infections.
- Minimized chemical use, promoting sustainability and organic farming potential.
- Early detection prevents large-scale orchard damage.
- Higher market-ready produce ensures better profitability.
5. Krikso India Support for Horticultural Farmers
- Certified Disease-Free Saplings – Healthy orchard establishment.
- Organic Bio-Fertilizers and Bio-Pesticides – Manage fungal, bacterial, viral, and nematode threats.
- Technical Advisory Services – Expert guidance on ICDM practices, monitoring, and prevention.
- Market Linkages – Helps farmers sell high-quality, disease-free fruits at profitable prices.
