Association of Pestalotia carissae with Carissa carandas : A new record from Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Carissa carandas commonly known as “Crane berry†is a species of flowering shrub belonging to family Apocynaceae. It produces berry sized fruits that are commonly used as a condiment in Indian pickles and spices. Due to its drought resistant nature, valued medicinal properties and other uses, its propagation is being popularized in sub tropical zone of Himachal Pradesh. But, like any other plants, it has also been found to be attacked by pathogens. While, visiting the demonstration units at Regional Horticultural and Forestry Research Station, Neri, Hamirpur and at farmers’ fields during the year 2011. The crop was found to be attacked with a leaf spot disease. The disease was recorded to appear as a small rounded reddish coloured spot on the leaves which later enlarged, turned dark maroon to brownish in shade. At later stages the different spots on the same leaves were found to coalesce covering the major portion of the leaves and gray coloured centre was also visible on mature spots. The severity of the disease recorded on 0-4 scale was 49.03 per cent. The pathogen was isolated on potato dextrose agar medium from diseased samples brought to laboratory which was further purified and maintained. In culture, the mycelium of the isolated fungus was creamy white and cottony which later turned to light gray in colour. However, microscopically the mycelium was found to be hyaline and septate with abundant septate conidia having appendages on the terminal cells. The culture was sent to ITCC, New Delhi for identification and the pathogen was identified as Pestalotia carissae under the ID No. 8167.11. The disease continues to appear year after year in the demonstration unit of the research station (now College) in the moderate to severe form. This constitutes a new record of the disease on this plant species from Himachal Pradesh.