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Efficacy Of Cultural Practices Adapted By Farmers In ýThe Management Of
Witches’ Broom Disease Of Limeý ýý ýý
A. M. AL-Sa’di,ý ýM.L. Deadman and I. Khanýýýý
College of
Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box ýý34,
AlKhod 123, Sultanate of Omaný
E-mail: Saad2000@squ.edu.om
Abstract
Since the first report of symptoms in the early 1970s, and the
ýidentification of the causal agent as a phytoplasma in the late 1980s, no
control ýmeasures have been able to suppress witches’ broom disease of lime in
Oman. The ýdisease, which is characterized by symptoms that appear as very dense
branching, ýsmall, light green to yellow leaves, and no or very small juice-less
fruits, has ýaffected the economy of the country by destroying more than 90% of
lime ýproduction. Moreover, the disease has been reported in the UAE, Iran and
India, ýand is becoming a worldwide problem. Management approaches such as the
use of ýantibiotics, destruction of the severely affected trees, and ongoing
research on ýprotoplast fusion, haven’t yet managed to control the problem. A
survey was ýinitiated in the northern part of Oman to identify and assess the
cultural practices ýemployed by farmers to manage the disease. Lime trees were
found to start ýproducing fruits when they were 2.5-3 years old. Witches’ broom
disease ýsymptoms were found to appear after the third year and to increase
steadily. The ýseverity of the disease can reach as high as 90% in 10 years.
Maximum production ýwas found when limes are 5-6 years old, after which the
production started to ýdecline and had a significant negative correlation with
the severity of the disease. ýTo avoid any gap in production, farmers have an
average of three tree growth ýstages under cultivation at any one time. The use
of cow manure was found to ýhave a significant relationship with the yield and
growth density, while the growth ýdensity had a significant negative correlation
with the disease incidence and ýseverity. Salinity of the irrigation water was
found to promote the disease. ýý
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