First Report of Alternaria Leaf Blight in Bael (Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr.)from Eastern Plateau and Hill Region of India

Abstract

Bael (Aegle marmelos) is one of the important known fruit crops of India which have widely distributed in Northern India. Alternaria leaf blight of Aegle marmelos (L.) (Bael) was reported for the first time in from Eastern Plateau and Hill region of India. The symptoms initially observed as light brown to dark brown spots of indefinite size appearing on leaves with light brown or dark brown rings. Infected leaves further get blighted and fall down after drying and in extreme cases of disease entire infected plants become died. The disease was observed both in nursery and orchards but in nursery it observed quite severe than orchard. The disease-causing pathogen was isolated and identified as Alternaria alternata on the basis of its disease symptoms, colony morphology and microscopic characteristics of mycelium, conidiophores and conidia. Alternaria leaf blight of bael was successfully managed by the foliar application of Chlorothalonil 75WP @ 2.5-3g/L / Carbendazim 50 WP @1-1.5g/L.