Progressive Agriculture

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea L. Gaud) is being considered as an oldest and valuable fibre crop of the country and it is well known for the strongest and longest natural fibre in the world today. Survey and surveillance of important foliar diseases of ramie were carried out in different fields of RRS, Sorbhog and at ramie plantation sites at upper Assam throughout the year during 2011–2012. Occurrence of different foliar diseases was studied to know the important foliar diseases of ramie. The diseases such as Cercospoera leaf spot caused due to Cercospora boehmeriae, Anthracnose leaf spot caused due to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and mosaic of ramie which is the viral disease were observed to be important foliar diseases of ramie crop causing considerable damage to the crop. For the management of this foliar diseases, field screening of six different fungicides were carried out. Amongst all the fungicides Propiconazole proved to be very effective followed by Difenconazole and Mancozeb in management of cercospopra leaf spot and anthracnose leaf spot also increases the plant height, strip weight and ultimately fibre yield.