Spraying of traditional copper sulphate and lime mixture is the only recommended solution to control fruit-rot disease, scientists of the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasaragod, said here during their interaction with farmers.
They said the institute had not recommended solutions available in the market with different brand names (fungicides) starting with “bio …” for controlling the disease in arecanut palms.
Vinayaka Hegde, acting head (plant protection) and principal scientist (plant pathology), and K.B. Hebbar, head, physiology, bio-chemistry and post-harvest technology division asked farmers to spray traditional copper sulphate and lime mixture only. The CPCRI had not recommended anything else though some farmers said that the disease was brought under control by spraying it and while others said that it was of no use.
