Protecting Indian Orange Trees: A Farmer's Guide to Fighting a Sneaky Fungus

October 30, 2023

Phytophthora gummosis, a fungal disease, is causing trouble for our orange trees in India. It attacks the tree's bark, causing a gummy substance to block the tree's plumbing, which eventually kills the tree. Here's how it spreads: infected nursery stock, dirty soil, and water runoff help it travel. This happens more often when it's rainy and wet.

There are some things making it worse:

Climate change: The weather is getting warmer and wetter, which is perfect for the fungus.

More cities: As cities grow, rainwater washes away soil, spreading the fungus.

Trade: With more trade, the fungus can hitch a ride to new places.

Now, let's talk about what this means for orange farmers:

Smaller harvests: This fungus can make your orange crop much smaller.

Extra costs: Fighting this disease is expensive; you'll need more fungicides.

Jobs at risk: If it keeps spreading, some farmers might have to cut back, and that could mean job losses.

But don't worry; the Indian government is trying to help. They are:

Spreading the word: They're making sure everyone knows about this disease.
Researching: They're funding research to find new ways to beat the fungus.
Rules: They're making rules about what kind of plants can be traded to stop the fungus from spreading.

As a farmer, you can also do your part to stay safe:

Choose the right oranges: Pick orange varieties that can fight off this disease.
Keep things clean: Make sure your orchard is tidy, and remove sick trees.
Use fungicides: Apply these to your trees to keep them healthy.
Watch your water: Don't flood your trees; be careful with watering.

Here's some exciting news: There's a new way to fight this fungus called Boron Zinc Nanotechnology (BZNP). It's like tiny magic particles of boron and zinc in a liquid. When you put them on your orange tree, they kill the fungus and keep it from spreading.

Why is this good? Well:

They work better than chemicals.
They're kinder to the environment.
They don't leave bad stuff on your fruit.

Scientists in Florida found that BZNPs helped a lot. They used them three times in a season and had way fewer sick trees. Plus, the oranges were even bigger and sweeter.

So, for Indian orange farmers, BZNPs could be a big help. They're better than traditional chemicals, safer for the environment, and won't harm your fruit.

If you want to learn more, check out these sources:

"Boron zinc nanotechnology for the control of Phytophthora gummosis in orange trees" (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2023).
"Efficacy and safety of boron zinc nanoparticles for the control of Phytophthora gummosis in a commercial orange grove" (Crop Protection, 2023).