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Causal organism
Purple blotch is caused by the soil-borne fungus Phytophthora capsicii.
Symptoms
- On small fruit, small purple spots quickly grow to cover the entire fruit surface.
- On larger fruit, the spots or blotches usually reach 2 cm in diameter before being noticed. The spots quickly expand to 5 cm wide.
- The fruit may be covered by white fungal growth, which develops under moist conditions.
Mode of spread – It is primarily spread through splash from the ground onto the leaves, braches and fruit up to one meter, or slightly more, above the ground.
Reason for Severity – Wet condition in orchard for prolonged period due to the continuous rainfall.
Management –
- Prune dead twigs before flowering, and remove infected fruit and dead leaves regularly.
- Spray Ridomil 1-2g / lit of water because it provides both the protective properties of copper hydroxide and the curative and systemic properties of Metalaxyl-M.
Source– George, A., Broadley, R., Hutton, D., Redpath, S., Bignell, G., Nissen, B., Bruun. D., and Waite, G. (2015). Integrated Pest and Disease Managementmanual for Custard Apple. Queensland Department Of Agriculture And Fisheries.
AESA based IPM package of Custard Apple. Department of Agriculture and Cooperation Ministry of Agriculture Government of India
