Suppression of the development of canker scab complex in Kinnow nursery through cultural practices

In Kinnow nursery, diseases like citrus canker (caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri) and scab (incited by Elsinoe fawcetii) occur synchronously on the same plant. If these are not managed, the pursery becomes severely diseased from where the diseases spread out to the orchard. The cultural control practices including covering the nursery with nylon net, providing shelterbelt with Hessian cloth and removing the diseased foliage were tested and all were found effective in reducing the development of these diseases. Covering the nursery with nylon net during July-August had a retarding effect on the development of canker-scab complex (CSC) and reduced its intensity by 52.6 per cent after seven weeks of netting. The periodic intensity of CSC at a distance of 2, 4 and 6 m from the shelterbelt was reduced by 45.1, 27.1 and 13.4 per cent, respectively. The removal of diseased foliage up to 10, 10–25 and 25–50 per cent reduced the intensity of CSC by 12.97, 26.28 and 48.12 percent, respectively. Thus a programme for integrated management of CSC involving cultural practices in combination with the recommended chemical control measures would be needed for raising clean Kinnow nursery.