Stem Canker

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What is stem canker?

Stem canker is the potentially most destructive disease of dragon fruit recorded from several orchards with low to high intensity

Causal organism – Neoscytalidium dimidiatum

Symptoms–

  • The affected cladodes (Flattened leaf like stem) initially show depressed, chlorotic spots with red flecks.
  • As the disease progresses, the spot centres become elevated and turn red to grey.
  • The spot centers expand and convert to hard brown scabs with pycnidia embedded on the surface
  • Yellowing followed by rotting of affected cladodes becomes prominent as the disease advances.
  • Over time, the necrotic tissues detach from healthy tissues, leaving behind shot holes.

Fruits become chlorotic depressed spots are followed by rotting of affected fruits.

Fig – Symptoms of stem canker on cladodes

Mode of spread-

  • Dispersed by Rain splashes.

Reason of severity-

  • The disease is more severe due to prevalence of temperature ranging from 35-370C and high humidity.

Management-

Cultural PracticesChemical Control
Prune and discard of infected cladodes.  Apply Copper fungicide on the pruned portion.Spraying Copper oxychloride @ 2g per liter Mancozeb 75% WP 2.5 g per literAzoxystrobin 18.2% w/w + Difenoconazole 11.4% w/w SC @ 1 ml per liter