Ganoderma wilt – A Lethal Disease of Coconut in Tamil Nadu Research Accomplishments and Future Thrust

Abstract

Ganoderma wilt or Thanjavur wilt disease is the most lethal one, is caused by the fungus Ganoderma lucidum (leys) Karst and it is of major limiting factor in coconut production in nine coastal districts of Tamil Nadu. The high alarming of the disease alerted the government to launch the Ganoderma wilt research in the state in the yesteryear. Subsequently, more than five decadal researches done on this disease that provides preliminary, applied and advanced results and outcomes that are crucial and fruitful in the  disease management. The endemic nature of the disease is evident and it has been witnessed with the severe spread of the disease in the east coast region of Tamil Nadu after the attack of Gaja cyclone urges the research efforts to contain the disease. The disease incidence ranges from 6.5 % to 50% in Thanjavur district followed by Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur districts is continuously reminds the threat of the disease to the coconut farmers in this region. In this juncture, It is indispensable to highlight the significant works on  documentation of disease incidence, isolation of pathogen , pathogenicity, virulence study, disease index formula development,  early and rapid detection methods, epidemiology, pathophysiology, agronomical, cultural, biological chemical disease control methods ,integrated  disease management  strategy etc., .done ,in the past  and it is  necessarily a boon to the current research work. Obviously, the brief review will make a corner stone and open up new discussion on the most important aspects of the disease management. This necessitates and leads the new line of research coping with the future thrusts will helpful in combating the lethal disease in the post Gaja cyclone scenario in the state.