India - Fungal ‘rust’ spreads in apple orchards after continuous rain

25.06.2019 287 views
A widespread outbreak of fungal diseases called “rust” in this year’s apple crop is being reported in south Kashmir, more bad news for farmers who suffered losses last year, despite a good crop, because of low market rates. Horticulture experts say the inclement weather this year is the reason for outbreak of diseases. “Last year the weather remained pleasant. Except for losses to cherry due to rain, Kashmir witnessed a quality crop,” an expert based in south Kashmir said. He said the continuous rains since the month of April, coupled with hail storms, hit almost every district in the valley, damaging both horticultural and agricultural crops. Scientists posted at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in Balpora Shopian said that the continuous rains in recent months are the main reason why the rust diseases have afflicted apples. However, they said, the rust doesn’t affect the life of apple if it doesn’t develop cracks. An official handout prepared by the KVK in Balopra suggests that wetness from heavy dew and heavy rainfall for a long period of time, amid cold temperatures, leads to rust diseases. It also says that if frost occurs in early fruit development stage then the chances of rust are high. “Apple orchards in low-lying areas that have higher water retention capacities in Shopian district have been found to be most susceptible to rust problems,” a scientist at the KVK said. The official document says that some agricultural chemicals that contain sulphur, copper, zinc, calcium, as also the products formulated as Emulsifiable Concentrates, are known to cause rusting in apples, especially in orchards with slow drying conditions (owing to high relative humidity and poor air circulation). Spraying of fungicides along with insecticides or plant nutrients is another factor that induces rusting. Most apple growers use higher concentrations of pesticides than recommended by the agricultural university SKUAST-K. The practice of washing apple orchards with chemicals leads to a lot of active chemical ingredients accumulating on fruits, which causes rusting. Chemical rusting can develop either on the stem end when the calyx end bends downwards, or on the calyx end when it stands upright. Some chemicals like Tebuconazole, Sulphur, and copper oxychloride when sprayed at early stage of fruit development (usually before June 15) not only cause rusting but also prove to be phytotoxic to apple leaves. To contain rust diseases, scientists at the KVK recommend deep pruning of low-lying orchards, which facilitates air circulation and reduces relative humidity in the microclimate, thus creating fast drying conditions after rains and pesticide application. “Pesticide spraying should be conducted always in dry conditions. For rusting-prone orchards/ varieties, it is better to spray before heavy rains than after rains when wet conditions prevail in orchards,” one of the scientists at KVK said. After the month of June, when the temperature increases, it is better to spray pesticides early in the morning after dew evaporates. “In summer months, evening winds often bring rain showers, thereby making the spray dry slowly,” the official document says. Source - https://www.freshplaza.com
27.03.2024

Turkey - Climate change may affect grape cultivation

A recent study has highlighted the impact of the climate crisis on viticulture in Turkey, predicting that the expected rise in temperatures and reduced rainfall could shift the suitability of vineyard regions for grape production over the next three decades.

27.03.2024

Crop crisis reveals El Niño’s toll on Southern Africa

New findings from the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (Enso) reference group highlight the significant impact of the 2023/24 El Niño event on various aspects of climate and agriculture in Southern Africa.

27.03.2024

Philippines - Crop losses reach P80M as drought hits Negros Oriental

As the El Niño phenomenon worsens in Negros Oriental, damage to rice, corn, and other high-value crops has reached more than PHP80.4 million, the Department of Agriculture-Provincial Agriculture Technology Coordinating Office (DA-PATCO) said Tuesday.

27.03.2024

USA - Farmers say coverage has become unavailable or unaffordable as drought and floods increasingly threaten their crops

Farmers who grow fresh fruits and vegetables are often finding crop insurance prohibitively expensive — or even unavailable — as climate change escalates the likelihood of drought and floods capable of decimating harvests.

27.03.2024

India - Telangana Minister assures financial support for rain-affected farmers

Telangana Excise and Prohibition Minister Jupally Krishna Rao has assured the farmers that the government is committed to providing financial help to the cultivators whose crops were damaged due to unseasonal rains.

27.03.2024

Australia - Managing canola pests using beneficial insects, spiders and mites

Australian grain growers will benefit from improved pest management strategies with the commencement of two new research projects focusing on beneficial insects (beneficials) in canola.

27.03.2024

USA - Early blooms indicate strong fruit year if frost, freeze can be avoided

Warm temperatures in late February and early March have led fruit trees across Virginia to blossom early. Based on what growers are seeing, the number of blooms indicate at banner crop. However, there is a risk a portion of that crop could be wiped out by a freeze or frost.

27.03.2024

USA - As winters warm, Wisconsin fruit growers brace for the worst

On a cool, early spring morning in March, Liz Griffith stands among her apple trees, reaching to the very highest branches with a pole saw. Birds that have already returned north call to each other over the “snip snip” of shears, as Griffith and her staff prune through eight acres of apple trees on her orchard in Cottage Grove.

istanbul escort şişli escort tbilisi escort şişli escort şişli escort maslak escort istanbul escort beşiktaş escort taksim escort izmir escort ümraniye escort mecidiyeköy escort şişli escort taksim escort ümraniye escort kartal escort şirinevler escort maltepe escort istanbul escort ümraniye escort kadıköy escort vip escort mersin escort istanbul escorts ataköy escort avcılar escort beylikdüzü escort okmeydanı escort şişli escort tuzla escort işitme cihazı sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop