Over a thousand neem trees in Telangana have been infected by a disease known as ‘dieback,’ which causes parts of the trees to dry up and die. The trees that are badly infected lose their ability to produce fruit.
According to researchers at the Forest College and Research Institute (FCRI), the disease is caused by a pathogen called Phomopsis azadirachtae, which is both seed-borne and seed-transmitted. Researchers recommend that the disease should be managed with the help of biocontrol agents and fungicides from the time the seeds are sown.
Did You Know?
Every part of the neem tree has medicinal properties, which have been used to prepare traditional medicines to treat various illnesses