Arecanut (Areca catechu)

Basal Stem Rot(Anabe) (Ganoderma lucidum)

Symptoms

  • The leaf lets in outer whorls become yellow and spreads to the whole leaf and the leaves droop down covering the stem.
  • Later, the inner whorl leaves also become yellow. Subsequently all the leaves droop, dry up and fall off, leaving the stem alone.
  • Then the stem becomes brittle and easily broken by heavy wind.
  • The base of the stem shows brown discoloration and oozing of dark fluid
  • Bracket shaped fructifications of the fungus called ‘anabe’ appears at the base of the trunk.
  • Roots become discoloured, brittle and dried
  • When infected trunk is cut open brown discoloration can be seen up to one metre from ground level.

Management

  • Remove and destroy all severely affected palms and stumps of dead palms.
  • Discourage growing of collateral hosts of fungus such as Delonix regia and Pongamia glabra in the vicinity of gardens.
  • Avoid flood irrigation and water flowing from infected palms to healthy palms.
  • Apply 2 kg neem cake per palm.
  • Isolate affected palms by digging trenches 60 cm deep and 30 cm wide around, one metre away from the base and drench with calixin (0.08%) or copper oxychloride (0.3%)
  • Drench the soil with 1% Bordeaux mixture before planting healthy seedlings.