Symptoms of what is believed to be yellow leaf disease is being witnessed in the Marayur region, raising fears that it will engulf the entire areca nut cultivation there.
Last year, root-wilt disease with the same symptoms had spread among coconut trees in the area and experts’ opinion on controlling it proved ineffective. Tender coconut on disease-affected trees withered and started decaying. Once a plot was affected with the disease, it fast engulfed the entire area. The farmers were left with no option but to destroy the trees.
It is believed that the same disease has now affected the arecanut trees, with the leaf in the inner whorl yellowing and then spreading to the outer whorl of the crown. The trunk breaks off at the top, and rotting of roots has also been reported. The nut is reduced in size, the kernel turns black, the top decays, and finally the tree is killed.
Experts said phytoplasma was the disease-causing agent, and the disease had already affected hundreds of acres of both coconut and areca nut palms. The affected trees are mainly at Nachivayal, Anachalpetty and Kovilkadavu in Marayur and Chanalmedu, Missionvayal and Cheruvadu in Kanthallur.
An official of the Agriculture Department told The Hindu on Monday that a wide area in Marayur had already fallen to the disease. “Earlier we thought that it was a microplasm-like organism and directions were given to the farmers on counter measures. However it was found that the controlling measures were ineffective and the disease fast spread to new areas,” he said.
Farmers said coconut and arecanut palms on hundreds of acres were cut down in the last six months. Uzhavil Jose of Nachivayal said after the outer leaves turned yellow, the top of the tree started decaying within a month. “When the disease affected coconut trees, we applied pest control measures suggested by the Krishi Bhavan. However, it proved ineffective and the disease fast spread to nearby areas,” he said.
Agriculture Department officials said the failure to take continuous disease-control measures was the reason for the spread of the disease.
Block technology manager Manikandan said a team of pathologists from the Kerala Agricultural University would visit the farms on July 20, 21 and 22 and interact with the farmers.
It is also suspected that could be a new disease that has affected the area.
