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'Quick tree
decline' still incurable disease
LAHORE _ The effective remedy of
virulent 'quick tree decline disease', which can lead to mass
'desertification', is still a question mark as uptil now
research institutes in Punjab could hardly identified cause of
the problem.
The issue of quick tree decline disease has a national
importance, keeping in view the fact that Sheesham (Dalbergia
sisso) trees have almost disappeared from the province due to
it. In addition to this, the deadly pathogen of the disease
attacked mango, guava and citrus orchards, which are
considered as cash export commodities of the country.
The Punjab Forest Research Institute (PFRI), was first given
the initiative to ascertain reason of the disease.
Subsequently, Dr Mohammad Khan had been assigned the
responsibility to undertake research on the disease. However,
owing to the fact that as the institute has neither Tree
Pathology Laboratory nor a Trained Pathologist, PFRI team
handed over the collected samples (affected root and wood) to
University of Agriculture, (UAF) Faisalabad and Ayub
Agriculture Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad for
identification of pathogen.
Later, following pathogen attack on mango, guava and citrus
orchards, Vice Chancellor UAF made a special team under
leadership of Dr Sultan Mahmood Khan (Head of Department of
plant pathology) and Dr Mohammad Yousaf (Head of Department of
Agriculture Entomology) to investigate cause of the disease.
This team started survey to collect the diseased tree specimen
(root, bark, wood, leaves and soil specimens) and took them to
Forest Pathology Lab UAF and Entomology Lab. But during
initial studies it was observed that no insect is involved in
decline of above trees.
However, during Pathological investigation following fungal
Pathogen were reported; Phytopathora spp. Fusarium spp.
Rhizocotonia spp. Ganoderma lucidum.
While, AARI team worked under the supervision of Dr Mushtaq
Gill at Plant Pathology section also did work on
identification of pathogen and isolated almost the same fungal
pathogen.
Meanwhile, Punjab Forest Department officials are optimistic
about outcome of the result. They admitted that the disease
damaged a lot to Sheesham trees in the province. However, they
said, mango and guava orchards are relatively less affected by
disease.
Courtesy The Nation, Lahore August 10, 2001
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