ACREMONIUM ROSEOGRISEUM - A NEW FUNGAL PATHOGEN OF MULBERRY (MORUS ALBA L.) FROM AIZAWL (MIZORAM)

Abstract

Aizawl (latitude23.42°N, longitude 92.94°E), a rainfed zone of North East India is located at 1132 meter above sea level (MSL), where total area under mulberry (Morus alba L.) is 5100 hectare.In mulberry field incidence of Powdery mildew (Phyllactinia corylea) , Myrothecium leaf spot ( Myrothecium roridum) and Leaf rust ( Perdiopsora mori) are predominating in this region. A new foliar disease for the incidence of Acremonium roseogriseum, an endophyic fungus was observed. The pathogen was identified from IARI, NewDelhi. Disease incidence appears in the month of October and continues up to January. Disease symptoms are characterized by the presence of off white to ash coloured felty mat on the ventral surface of leaves. The disease is severely affected all ruling mulberry cultivars ( viz, S1 and S1635) in Aizwal (Mizoram). Acremonium roseogriseum infecting the leaves of Mulberry is a new report from India