Pineapple Disease

Causal organism: Ceratocystis paradoxa

• Typical disease symptoms are detected in setts after 2 - 3 weeks of planting.
• Pathogen enters the sett mainly through the cut ends and destroy the central soft portion i.e., parachymatous tissues of the internode and then damages the buds.
• Drought accelerates the damage.

Symptoms:

• Affected tissues first develop a reddish colour, which turns to brownish black at later stages.
• Cavities are formed inside the severely affected internodes.
• The presence of the fungus inside the sett prevents their rooting.
• In most cases setts decay before bud sprouts or the shoots grow to a height of 6 - 12cm. Thus, causing germination failure leading to reduced initial crop stand per unit area.
• Occasionally, the disease occurs in standing crop too due to the entry of the pathogen through stalk damaged by borers, rats or any such injuries.
• Pathogen spreads rapidly throughout the canes, foliage turns yellow, and ultimately plant withers. The diseased stalk when cut open smells like mature pineapple.