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No cheer for cherry growers in Himachal
Cherry X disease, also known as cherry buckskin, is caused by a pathogen called phytoplasma, which was first reported in Shimla district about 10 days ago
The outbreak of Cherry X disease has been reported in five villages of Baghi area in Shimla district, which has damaged up to 80% plantation, officials from the Himachal Pradesh’s horticulture department said on Thursday.
Cherry X disease, also known as cherry buckskin, is caused by a pathogen called phytoplasma, which was first reported in the district about 10 days ago.
“We have got reports of disease outbreak from five villages in Baghi area. The exact extent of spread is being assessed,” said horticulture director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta.
Apart from Baghi, cherry is grown in Kotgarh, Narkanda, Thanadhar, Kandiali, and Kumarsain areas of the district. The disease could cause huge loss to the growers if it spreads to other areas.
The phytoplasma causing Cherry X disease has a fairly limited host range, mostly stone fruit trees. Hosts of the pathogen include sweet cherry, sour cherry, choke cherry, peaches, nectarines, almonds, clover, and dandelion.
The infection reduces fruit size and quality in sweet cherries. In contrast to Little Cherry Virus-2, where fruit is often left with flavour, crop infected with Cherry X is often bitter with reduced fructose, glucose, and sorbitol content. Red, Black Heart, Durone Nero, Stella, Bing, Merchant and Sunburst are some of the popular cherry varieties.
Mokhta said that department has sent a team of experts to the affected areas to collect samples from orchards.
He said the cherry plants have started dropping leaves and exact situation would be known once the leaves fall off completely in March and April.
As a preventive measure, the department is working out on spray schedule , he added.
Seven varieties of cherries are grown in the mid and high-altitude regions of Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Chamba, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts.
At least 10,000 small farmers grow cherries on 550 hectares of the total fruit-growing area with 75% of the cultivation done in Shimla district.
Cherry is considered a better alternative to apples by growers. Cherry cultivation contributes about ₹200 crore to the state’s economy.
Cherry growers had last week sought the state government’s help to protect their trees.
