Leaf curl disease detected in cotton crop

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 9

Leaf curl disease has been detected in cotton crop in Fatehabad, Sirsa and other districts of the state.

Scientists of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of the CCS Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar, and Agriculture Department jointly surveyed cotton fields in Fatehabad district on weekly basis from March to July. The team included Dr Rakesh Kumar Chugh, a scientist of the KVK, and Dr Mukesh Mehla, plant protection officer of the Agriculture Department.

Dr Chugh said six-eight whitefly insects were found per leaf in the Bhattu block of Fatehabad, which, he said, was above the economic threshold level.

Dr Dilip Monga, principal scientist at the Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR), Sirsa, said the incidents of the disease were being noticed in other parts of the state also.

Leaf curl disease, also called ‘patta marod’ in local parlance, is caused by the cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV).

The CLCuV leads to curling of the leaves and corollary withering of the plants due to lack of nourishment.

Once affected, the growth of the cotton is hit, which leads to a severe decline in production.