POMEGRANATE BACTERIAL BLIGHT DISEASE SITUATION IN ANDHRA PRADESH

Pomegranate is being cultivated on commercial scale in Anantapur and Mahaboob nagar districts of Andhra Pradesh. 75% of the area under pomegranate cultivation is in Anantapur district only. Bacterial blight (oily spot) disease occurred in epidemic proportions during 2001 and is still on the increase resulting in huge losses. To know the disease situation a fixed plot survey was conducted in Anantapur and Mahaboob nagar districts of Andhra Pradesh. Totally 7 mandals viz., Bommanahall, D. Hirehall, Gadwal, Madakasira, Pedda pappur and Penakonda (6 in Anantapur and 1 in Mahaboob nagar) were selected where the crop is cultivated intensively. The disease incidence was recorded on leaves, stems and fruits by following a 0-6 foliar disease rating scale. Survey results revealed that the disease is prevailing in all the pomegranate growing areas. However, the incidence varied from mandal to mandal. The highest leaf (71%), stem (81%) and fruit (62.5%) incidence was recorded in Bommanahall mandal and lowest leaf (44.5%), stem (61.6%) and fruit (47.5%) was recorded in Gadwal mandal.