STUDY ON SEEDLING DISEASES OF COCONUT (Cocos nucifera L.) IN SELECTED LOCATION OF BANGLADESH AND THEIR MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Seedlings diseases of coconut and the effect of weather parameters on the diseases were studied during 2010 to 2012 in different growing locations of Bangladesh with an effort to development a suitable disease management practice. Important plant pathogens Pestalotia sp., Cercospora sp., Curvularia sp. and Phytophthora sp. were detected and identified as causal agent of leaf spot and leaf blight diseases of coconut seedlings. Disease incidence and severity observed higher in Dhaka than Khulna in different nursery surveyed. Effect of weather parameters on incidence and severity of diseases were studied and significant variations were observed. The highest disease incidence (84.60%) and severity (33.74%) was recorded by the effect of Pestalotia sp. And the lowest disease incidence (2.25%) and severity (2.83%) was recorded by the effect of Phytophthora sp. Temperature, relative humidity and rainfall act as parameter in this study. The highest disease incidence and severity occurred in the month of April and July and the lowest in December. Effectiveness of four chemical fungicides viz. Cupravit 50 WP, Mancozeb, Ditbane M-45 and Bavistin 50 WP were evaluated on coconut seedling diseases in the nursery. Among the treatments applied Cupravit 50 WP and Dithane M-45 showed better result than Mencozeb and Bavistin in controlling disease incidence and severity of leaf spot and leaf blighted diseases of coconut.