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INTEGRATED DISEASE MANAGEMENT TO CONTROL SHISHAM (DALBERGIA SISSOO ROXB.) DECLINE IN PAKISTAN

RUKHSANA BAJWA AND ARSHAD JAVAID

Abstract: Surveys of different areas of Punjab conducted during 2003-2005, revealed that shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.) plants are severely suffering from wilt and dieback diseases. Maximum mortality of up to 80% was observed along the canal bank followed by 20–40% along the highways and roadsides. The least disease incidence and mortality rate was observed in plants growing on agricultural and well managed lands. Generally older plants were found to be more susceptible to dieback attack than the younger ones. However, wilt was common both in young and old plants. Stressed conditions especially drought and high soil moisture content were found to be responsible for attack of pathogen and severity of the disease. Fusarium solani (Mart.) Appel & Wr. was isolated from the roots of shisham plants suffering from wilt disease. From roots of dying back trees Fusarium oxysporum (Schlechtend.): Fr., and Phytophthora cinamomi Rands were isolated. Shisham decline can be controlled by adopting integrated disease management (IDM) approach.  Benomyl was effective in controlling wilt in 6‑8 years old shisham plants. Trichoderma harzianum Rifai,  T. viride Pers. ex Gray and T. aureoviride Rifai can be used as biological control agent to reduce the inoculum of  F. solani. Eighteen phenotypically different varieties of Shisham have been identified from Punjab University, Quaid-e-Azam Lahore, Pakistan and adjacent areas. Resistant shisham varieties should be planted on well drained sandy loam soils to control wilt and dieback. The severely infected and dead plants should be uprooted followed by disinfection of the soil to avoid further spread of the pathogenic inoculum.

Institute of Mycology and Plant Pathology, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus Lahore, Pakistan

E-mail: rukhsanabajwa_mppl@yahoo.com