Indian Institute of Spices Research

Indian Institute of Spices Research

Package of Practice - Vanilla

Disease Management

Vanilla is affected by many serious diseases in India, and they affect various parts of the vine.

Fusarium wilt
Phytophthora rot
Root rot
Shoot tip rot
Sclerotium rot
Dry rot

Fusarium wilt

Fusarium wilt caused by F. oxysporum is the most serious disease of vanilla. The disease is more prevalent in younger plantations especially during the monsoon season.
	Symptoms
	The infection starts at the leaf axil and spreads to the inter nodal region resulting in rotting and drying of the stem above the point of infection. The fungus also causes leaf rot symptoms on the plant.
	Management
	Phytosanitation methods such as removal and destruction of dead and diseased tissues and provision of adequate drainage in the plantation is important. Spraying and drenching of carbendazim 0.1% is effective against the disease. Addition of organics which encourage growth of antagonistic microflora also reduces the intensity of the disease in the plantations.

Phytophthora rot

	Symptoms
	Phytophthora meadii causes rotting of beans, leaves and stems. In severe cases all the beans in a bunch are completely rotten. The disease is more severe during the monsoon especially in shaded plantations and poorly drained soils.
	Management
	Phytosanitation and spraying of Bordeaux mixture 1% and drenching of soil with copper oxychloride 0.2% is effective against the disease.

Root rot

Root rot caused by Sclerotium rolfsii is generally seen during the onset of monsoon rains.
	Symptoms
	Initially, rotting of root tips occur and later the rotting extends to the whole root system followed by yellowing and wilting of vines. In severe cases the vine may also die.
	Management
	Drenching of affected vines with carbendazim 0.1% is effective for the management of the disease.

Shoot tip rot

	Symptoms
	The disease is characterized by rotting of shoot tip and is caused by Colletotricum vanillae and is more common during monsoon season.
	Management
	Drenching of affected vines with carbendazin 0.1% is effective against this malady.

Sclerotium rot

The disease affects leaves and is caused by Sclerotium rolfsii.
	Symptoms
	The beans develop reddish brown sunken lesions initially and later the entire bean rots. In severe cases all the beans in the bunch are covered with thick white feathery fungal mat, at the distal end of the leaves.
	Management
	Spraying with carbendazim 0.1% is effective for control the of the disease.

Dry rot

Dry rot affects all parts of the plant. The disease is believed to be caused by Fusarium-Rhizoctoria complex.
	Symptoms
	Shrinking of stems, roots and leaves followed by yellowing is the common symptom. Though the disease occurs throughout the year, its severity is more during summer. Intermittent drying of stems and leaves occur at advanced stage of the disease.