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Different Diseases of Jute: The Challenges for Jute Cultivation

Farzana Rayhan Runa Featured, Fungi, Physiology 1 Comment 8,024 Views

Jute is a long shiny vegetable fibre that can be spun into coarse strong threads. India, China and Bangladesh are three major producers in the cultivation or production of jute fibre.

Before understanding the diseases, lets know different parts of a jute plant so that we can understand where to look for the diseases.

Jute plant (animated). Source dreamstime

The diseases described in this section are:

Stem rot of jute
Anthracnose of jute
Black band of jute
Soft rot of jute

1. Stem rot of jute

Pathogen

Macrophomina phaseolina.
Sclerotial stage of the pathogen is Rhizoctonia bataticola.
It is a seed borne, air borne and soil borne fungi.

Characteristics of pathogen

Pycnidia are produced in the infected stem.
Pycnidiospores are one celled, hyaline, elongated with 3:1 ratio of length and breadth.

Infected parts

The disease occurs during almost all stages of plant growth.
Main infection occurs in the stem (to cortex). Besides, leaves may also get affected.

Symptoms

On young plant, the infection starts on collar region and cotyledons are also infected.
The affected seedlings show damping off symptoms.
Dark thin streaks develop at the collar region which may increase under humid condition.
On older plants, the leaves are attacked. Lesions appear on the margins and apex of the leaves.
Leaves fall down leaving the plants with bare branches.
Pycnidia are produced on the infected stem and rotting tissue.
When the pathogen infects the capsule, they become black and seeds become discolored and small.
The sclerotia of the pathogen are often seen on the capsule.
Stem rot of jute. Source Matirkatha.net

Control measure

Collection of healthy seeds from the infection free area.
Crop rotation with paddy.
Spraying fungicide before sowing seedlings. E.g Agrosan GN.
Application of stem rot disease variety.
Early harvesting.

2. Anthracnose of Jute

Generally found in the eastern part of the United States, anthracnose is caused by fungi in the genus Colletotrichum, a common group of plant pathogens that are responsible for diseases on many plant species.

Anthracnose of Jute. Infected leaf. Source Planetnatural.com.

Pathogen

Colletotrichum corchorii

Characteristics of pathogen

Condia hyaline.
Presence of setae.
Conidiophore aseptate.

Infected parts

Stem and leaf.

Symptoms

Infected plants develop yellowish brown, water soaked lesions on stems, leaves or fruit. Later, the color becomes dark brown to black.
The centers of these lesions often become covered with pink, gelatinous masses of spores especially during moist, warm weather.
Fiber becomes fragmented.
Anthracnose can reduce a beautiful harvest into rotted waste in just a few days.

Possible condition for disease

The fungal disease overwinters in and on seeds, soil and garden debris. Cool wet weather promotes its development, and the optimum temperature for continued growth of the spores is between 75-85˚F. Moisture is required for development and germination of the fungus as well as for infection of the plant. It is spread by wind, rain, insects and garden tools.

3. Blackband Of Jute

Earlier this was a minor disease but gradually it is spreading. The pathogen affects both the species of jute and causes serious damage to the older crop from July onwards, from which neither fibre nor seeds can be obtained.

Pathogen

Botryodiplodia theobromae

Characteristics of pathogen

Infected parts

Infection occurs at 2-3 feet high from soil to stem.

Symptoms

Infection generally occurs on mature plants.
Primarily brown color appears but later it becomes black band.
Leaf falling from infected plants results in the death of the plant.
Black pycnidia are seen in infected portions.

Management

Clean cultivation, seed treatment with Carbendazim 50 WP @ 2g/kg and foliar application of Carbendazim 50 WP@ 2g/l water or Cu-oxychloride @ 5-7 g/l water or Mancozeb @ 4-5 g/l water provides effective management.

Soft rot of jute

Pathogen

Sclerotium rolfsii

Characteristics of pathogen

Mycelia golden brown in color.
Mycelia profusely branched.
Sclerotium forms within 5 to 7 days.

Infected parts

Infection on the base of the stem and near the soil.

Symptoms

The infected part becomes spoiled.
Sclerotia formed.
Infected part: Golden brown.
If seedlings get infected, they have a difficulty to survive.
Soft rot of jute. Source Sundarbanfarm.