DIEBACK DISEASE

Context: The disease posing a threat to the neem trees has been identified as twig blight and dieback disease in Telangana

Details:

• Neem shows antibacterial, antifungal, and other versatile properties, but it does not exempt the neem trees from being attacked by pests and diseases.
• It has become a familiar sight in Telanganaand also in some other southern states over the last few years that twigs and leaves of neem trees dry up.
• The dieback disease affects leaves, twigs and the inflorescence of neem trees of all ages and it causes almost 100% loss of fruit production in severely infected trees.
• The dieback disease was first reported in the country during the 1990s near Dehradun in Uttarakhand, while it was first noticed in Telangana in 2019.
• Since it was first detected three years ago, the disease had waned but resurfaced in Telangana this time around.

• The dieback disease is mainly caused by the fungi Phomopsis azadirachtae.
• The appearance of symptoms starts with the onset of the rainy season and becomes progressively severe in the later part of the rainy season and early winter.
• The dieback is a fungal disease but the neem trees are sometimes hit by insect infestation and the combination of both increases its impact.
• Though neem trees are strong enough to combat the damage caused by the disease, measures to control its spread can be undertaken at community level for better results.
• To control the disease, the twigs affected by the disease should be cut and a blend of fungicide and insecticide can be sprayed after their removal.
• Alternatively, a pit should be dug around an affected tree, and water mixed with fungicide and an insecticide should be poured into it.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/dieback-disease-hits-neem-trees-in-telangana-again/article66295789.ece