Survey, Surveillance and Etiology of Rhizome Rot of Ginger in Karnataka

To know the prevalence of rhizome rot in Karnataka, a survey was conducted during Kharif 2003–05 in major ginger growing areas of Karnataka. Rhizome rot incidence was noticed in all the locations surveyed with a range from 5.50 to 45.60 per cent. The maximum disease incidence of 23.70 per cent was recorded in Shimoga district followed by Kodagu (22.90%), Uttara Kannada (20.24%), Chickmagalur (18.99%) and Bidar (13.00%). Therefore, these places can be considered as hot spots of rhizome rot disease of ginger. Pythium aphanidermatum was isolated from all the locations collected and proved to be most predominant pathogen among the rhizome rot pathogens. Next predominant pathogen was Fusarium solani. Ralstonia solanacearum. was detected only from the southern parts of Karnataka.