The Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka has cautioned about the reemergence of the abnormal leaf fall diseases in rubber plantations. The pestilence, which is caused by fungi.
Colletotrichum and Pestalotiopsis have affected more than 20,000 ha of rubber plantations, the report said. The RRI, which warns of the disease’s detrimental effect on yield, recommends controlling the spread of infection to nearby plantations and other crops through the use of chemicals. New species of Colletotrichum have emerged, while Pestalotiopsis, a non-host-specific opportunistic pathogen also plays “ a synergistic role” in causing the leaf fall.
Given this advisory, RRI provided information about the symptoms to look out for and steps to correct diagnosis to economise disease controlling strategies, chemical control protocol, and machinery specifications for the chemical control programme. The organisation has also launched a WhatsApp group, Pesta RRISL, where new findings and guidance can be shared.