Vol. 12, Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
B Neeraja, V Prasanna Kumari, K Gopal and G Vijaykumar

Abstract:
Pod rot disease in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L), caused by Phytophthora palmivora, has been identified as one of the main production constraints in all cocoa growing areas across the world. Phytophthora palmivora (Butler) is a hemibiotrophic oomycete capable of infect over 200 plant species. To assess the mapping and prevalence of black pod rot disease in major cocoa growing areas viz., East Godavari, West Godavari and Srikakulam disticts of Andhra Pradesh (2020-2021 & 2021-2022). An intensive roving survey was conducted Among the mandals surveyed, Nagullanka mandal had the highest mean cocoa pod rot incidence (84.19%) and cocoa pod rot severity (51.66%), followed by Ainavelli mandal in East Godavari district with 77.72% pod rot incidence and 37.93% pod rot severity and Chagallu mandal in West Godavari district with 73.82% pod rot incidence and 33.92% pod rot severity. Dwaraka Tirumala mandal in west Godavari district had the lowest percentage of pod rot incidence (11.65%) and severity (4.81%), followed by Kaviti mandal in Srikakulam district, which had 13.98% pod rot incidence and 8.50% pod rot severity.