Injuries and protection

Damping off, seedling blight, stem canker and seedling rot are encountered in the nurseries. Stem wilt or bark blister disease caused by Trichosporium vesiculosum is a serious disease in the plantations. The disease affects trees of 3-4 years and causes mortality up to 80 per cent. Maintaining a soil pH of 6.5 to 6.8 and treating the plantation with fungicidal sprays can control this disease. Other diseases include stem canker and dieback caused by Phomopsis casuarinae, pink disease caused by Corticium salmonicolor, root rot disease caused by Ganoderma lucidum and heart rot caused by Polyporus glomeratus, Fomes fastuosus and F. senex. Stem canker and dieback can be controlled by spraying carbendazim @ 0.05per cent.

Insect pest problems to the tune of regular epidemic infestations inflicting extensive economic losses rarely occur in casuarina.