International Journal of Innovative Horticulture

Phytophthora-induced foot and root rot diseases coupled gummosis as common symptoms are widely observed in citrus orchards of central India, considered as the major causal factor of citrus decline. In order to keep the menace of Phytophthora under control, planned regular visits were undertaken during during 2022- 24 at the Nagpur mandarin orchards at Experimental Farm of ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute to assess the incidence and intensity of gummosis and establish the peak period of disease progression in Nagpur mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco). The incidence of gummosis ranged from 27.29 to 52.06%; while the intensity varied from 3.15 to 5.58% in 7-15 years -old- plants. The Phytophthora population density ranged from 25.66 to 32.72 cfu/cc of soil. Notably, the disease exhibited its peak prevalence during the period coinciding with November -December, underlying the urgency of understanding the periodicity of gummosis in Nagpur mandarin orchards. These outcomes serve as a critical snapshot of citrus gummosis in central India. The study is supposed to facilitate growers for timely identification and prediction of gummosis outbreak so that appropriate management options may be streamlined.