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Abstract:
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Bamboos are vulnerable to various diseases which affect them in
nurseries, plantations as well as in natural stands. In India, rot and
blight of emerging culms have already been identified as the limiting
factor of the bamboo production in many bamboo growing areas,
especially in the coastal belts of Orissa (Jamaluddin et a1., 1992).
Similarly, foliage blight and rust have been recorded to pose threat
to nursery as well as outplanted seedlings which are in the early
establishnent phase (Bakshi et a1., 1972; Harsh et a1., 1989). With
the increased emphasis and priority on raising multipurpose tree
species, large—scale planting of bamboos has been initiated recently
in the State. Limited experience in raising the bamboo seedlings
together with the lack of information on bamboo diseases and their
control measures often resulted in partial to complete failure of many
nurseries. Also, poor handling of bareroot seedlings for outplanting
affected seriously the planting programme. This was clearly reflected
by the large-scale nortality of outplanted young seedlings reported
from many plantations. So far, no systanatic attempt has been made to
study the diseases affecting bamboos in nurseries, plantations and
natural stands in the country. Hence, the present investigation was
taken up to conduct a systematic study of the diseases affecting
bamboos in Kerala. |