Ginger is one of the major spice crops cultivated in the humid tropical regions of southern India and contributes significantly to the livelihood of farmers in many high-range production belts. With planting activities set to commence in several ginger-growing regions, scientists at ICAR-IISR have stressed the importance of early preventive management to minimise the risk of disease outbreaks. Changing weather patterns — characterised by prolonged humidity, intermittent rainfall, morning dew, and moderate temperatures — have created favourable conditions for the development and spread of fungal diseases in ginger.

Photos: ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research / Regional Station, Appangala  |  Click any image to enlarge

The disease is caused by the fungal pathogen Pyricularia spp., widely known for causing blast diseases in monocot crops such as rice, wheat, and barley. Its occurrence in ginger has drawn serious attention due to the rapid nature of infection and the extent of crop damage observed under favourable climatic conditions.

Note: Although the pathogen does not directly infect rhizomes, substantial reductions in rhizome quality have been reported from affected fields.

The institute advises farmers to adopt the following preventive and management measures during the forthcoming cropping season:

1. 1
   Seed Rhizome Selection: Only healthy and disease-free seed rhizomes should be selected for planting. Visual inspection is essential before procuring planting material.
2. 2
   Pre-planting Seed Treatment: Prior to planting, soak seed rhizomes for 30 minutes in either:
     ◆ Propiconazole at 1 ml per litre of water, or
     ◆ Carbendazim + Mancozeb at 2 g per litre of water.
   Treated rhizomes should be shade dried and stored in a well-ventilated place before planting.
3. 3
   Prophylactic Field Spraying: Undertake prophylactic spraying with Propiconazole or Tebuconazole at 1 ml per litre, three to four months after planting — particularly in areas prone to prolonged humidity and dew formation.
4. 4
   Regular Field Surveillance: Monitor fields regularly for early symptoms — dark pinhead-sized spots accompanied by yellowing of leaves. Early detection is the single most important factor in preventing large-scale disease spread.
5. 5
   Immediate Action on First Symptoms: Upon noticing initial symptoms, immediately spray with Propiconazole or Tebuconazole at the recommended dosage to arrest further disease spread. Do not delay.
6. 6
   Follow-up Spray: A second spray with the same fungicide — or a combination formulation containing Tebuconazole + Azoxystrobin — may be given 10–15 days after the initial application, based on disease severity and prevailing weather conditions.
7. 7
   Sanitation & Crop Residue Management: Remove and destroy severely infected crop residues from the field. This helps reduce the build-up and spread of inoculum to neighbouring plants and the next crop cycle.