Research identifies new tea disease 'Leaf Necrosis'
This disease threatening Assam's tea industry
Assam, India's largest tea-producing state, is facing a new threat from a fungal disease called 'Leaf Necrosis'.
A team of research scholars led by Dr. Piyush Pandey, Professor of Microbiology at Assam University, Silchar, identified the disease after two years of research.
Caused by the fungus Lasiodiplodia theobromae, 'Leaf Necrosis' damages the upper part of tea leaves and is the first reported case in India, previously only documented in China.
Unlike the common fungal disease 'Corticium,' which causes black rot, Leaf Necrosis cannot be controlled with the standard chemicals used in tea gardens.
The discovery came after an in-depth study of tea leaves from plantations in Barak Valley, Dibrugarh, and Tinsukia.
Prof. Pandey highlighted the disease's rapid spread and resistance to conventional fungicides, stating, "We are looking for an alternative system since this fungus is not responsive to chemicals used as fertilizers in tea gardens."
Ishwar Bhai Ubadiah, General Manager of Rozkandi Tea Estate, echoed the concern, noting that while black rot was controllable with certain fungicides, Leaf Necrosis remained unaffected, posing a severe threat to the tea industry with potential losses exceeding 50 percent if not controlled.
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