STUDY ON SEEDLING DISEASES OF GUAVA (Psidium guajava L.) IN SELECTED AREA OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

Guava, the major fruit crops of Bangladesh, was surveyed during the period of July, 2010 to April, 2012. Three experiments were carried out to study the nursery diseases of guava and to observe the effect of temperature, relative humidity and rainfall on the occurrence of disease incidence and severity on seedlings. Important plant pathogens Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Pestalotiopsis spp., Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae were identified and the incidence and severity of anthracnose, scab and leaf blight of guava at seedling stage were studied. Significant variations in development of these diseases were observed in varied weather factors. Occurrence of seedling disease was correlated with temperature, rainfall and relative humidity. That is why there was great variation of disease incidence and severity of guava from one location to another as well as from one season to another season. These weather parameters should be critically addressed for each host-pathogen system to find out the most appropriate time to combat the disease at minimum effort.