Extension Folder No.
17
KOLEROGA (MAHALI) OF
ARECANUT
"
Fruit symptoms
~ Centro~,"~~~"n~~~~, ~r~~''"~t~.~~,~~,,~~~titUle
CPCRt Kasaragod.670 124. Karala. India.
OCCURRENCE Since Bordeaux mixture is a protective fungicide, Gare
should be taken to cover the entire surface by gi ving a very fine
Koleroga (rotting disease) or Mahali (heavy devastation ) spray.
is the rotting of arecanut fruits and is the most drea ded disease
occurring in all regions receiving heavy rainfall. It is caused PREPARATION OF BORDEAUX MIXTURE
by a fungus Phytophthora areeae. It was first recorded i;n
the erstwhile M ysore State during the first decade of this Dissolve 1 kg of Copper Sulphate in 50 litres of water and
centu ry. The disease is seasonal and occurs during the South kg of lime in 50 litres of water separately and mix j ust
W est monsoon period in Kerala, Karnataka and M aharashtra. before spraying. If the quality of lime is inferi or, 1 kg of lime
Though the exact total crop loss due to this disease is not may not be sufficient to neutralise the copper sulphate. To
avail able, annual loss of 10- 75 % has been recorded in different test the excess copper in the Bordeaux mixture solution, a
gard ens in the a bov e States. Low temperat ure, high humi dity polished iron knife or nail may be dipped into the solution .
and altern ate su nshine and heavy rain fall favo ur the disease If copper is in excess a brown ish coating w ill appear on the knife
development. in which case lime may be added t ill such coating disappears.
Copper, wooden or plastic vessels may be used for
SYMPTOMS preparation of this mixture. Do not use other metallic vessels.
The first visible symptom is the appearance of water
soaked lesions on the surface of fruits near the calyx. The
infected nu ts lose their lustre. The infected portion of the fruit
w ill be da rk green against light green backg round of the healthy
portions. The lesions gradually spread covering the entire
surface resulting in rot1ing and shedding of affected nuts. A
fe lt o f white mycelium develops on the fallen nuts. Fruits at
all sta ges of maturity are affected . The infected nuts are
unsuitable for chew ing d ue to qua lit y deteriorat ion.
CONTROL
Prophylactic spraying with 1 % Bordeaux mixture gives
satisf actory contro l of the disease. Two sprayings are generally
required, first after t he premonsoon showers and the second
40-45 days t hereafter. If the mo nsoon prolongs, a third spray
ing w ill b e required. Infe cted and falle n fruits must be collected
periodically and destroyed to reduce the inoculam and further
spread of the disease.
2 3
\
Published by
M. K. Nai r.
Director,
Central Plantat ion Crops Research Institute .
Kasarag od-670 124
Kerala
Text prepared and edited by:
KKN Nambiar
N Sara swat hy
R Chandra Mohan
A ugust 1989
P rin te d at: Sha ra da Press, Ma nga lo re.
