A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org>
[1] India
[2] Bangladesh
******
[1] India
Date: Sat 7 Mar 2009
Source: Newspost Online, Asian News International (ANI) report
[edited] <http://www.newspostonline.com/features/mysterious-disease-affects-potato-cultivation-in-west-bengal-2009030738143>
Disease affects potato cultivation in West Bengal
Potato cultivators in Hooghly district of West Bengal are facing
a crisis with the outbreak of a mysterious disease [most likely
to be late blight - Mod.DHA]. Farmers in Singur are worrying
about their uncertain future.
The farmers have already lost a major part of their crop due to
the unknown disease. Sukumar Samanta, President of Singur
Ratanpur Aalu Baybsai Samity said about 1.3-1.4 million tons of
potato was expected in comparison to last year's potato
cultivation of over 2.1 million tons.
This year compared to the usual potato cultivation in Hooghly
district [West Bengal], 5000 hectares [approx. 12 360 acres]
less have been planted with potato. This year's [2008-2009]
winter was not favourable for the crop. The disease has affected
35 percent of the crops. Production would only be about 65
percent in comparison to last year.
[Additional reports:
<http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=38182>,
<http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/potato-production-may-dip-30/00/12/348794/>,
<http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/500103/Business/4/20/4>,
<http://www.news.org.bd/?p=14855>
, and,
<http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=10&id=273836&usrsess=1>
-
Mod.DHA]
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
******
[2] Bangladesh
Date: Tue 17 Feb 2009
Source: Bangladesh Newspaper [edited]
<http://newspaperbangladesh.blogspot.com/2009/02/hybrid-fish-threat-to-indigenous.html>
Potato yield likely to fall in Barisal region
Farmers fear sharp fall in potato production in 6 districts of
Barisal region [division] this season [2008-2009] as their crop
fields have been massively attacked with late blight, a fungal
disease, due to inclement weather. The 'late blight' has caused
extensive damage to potato plants on vast tracts of land in
Barisal, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Bhola, Barguna, and Jhalakati
districts [in Barisal division], causing worries to the farmers,
locals said.
Cold wave accompanied by dense fog is mainly responsible for the
disease attack on the potato fields, according to officials of
Department of Agricultural Extension [DAE]. Farmers are now
casting doubt about whether the production target could be
achieved as the disease has hampered timely growth of potato
plants in many areas of the districts.
Two farmers in Barisal said the disease attacked potato on 10
hectares [approx. 25 acres] land out of 40 hectares [approx. 100
acres] in the area. Another farmer said at least 60 percent of
potato on his 8 acres [approx 3 ha] of land was damaged by the
diseases, and yet another farmer said late blight damaged almost
30 percent of the plants on his 5 acres [approx. 2 ha] of land.
Molla Safiur Rahman, additional director of DAE in Barisal, said
agriculture extension officials had promptly advised farmers to
spray pesticides when the attack was at primary stage. Farmers
said they followed the advice of DAE but all of their efforts
were in vain.
Besides, many farmers could not use fungicides due to high
prices.
[Additional report:
<http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=75945>.
- Mod.DHA]
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[Potato late blight (PLB) is caused by the fungus-like organism
_Phytophthora infestans_ and can cause 100 percent crop loss. It
is spread by plant material (including seed tubers), wind, and
water.
PLB disease management generally relies on fungicide treatments
of seed tubers and crops, but new and more virulent strains are
emerging frequently. For more information on PLB see links and
previous ProMED-mail posts below.
While PLB often causes problems in the region of India and its
neighbours, the disease has been extraordinarily rampant this
planting season (2008-2009). Weather conditions have been partly
blamed, but it must be considered that lack of efficient
certification of seed potatoes may be playing a role in these
recent outbreaks as well. Emergence of a new strain with
increased fungicide resistances can also not be excluded.
Maps
India:
<http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/images/IndiaMap_tourism.gif>
and
<http://healthmap.org/r/005U>
West Bengal districts:
<http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/westbengal/westbengal-district.htm>
Bangladesh:
<http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/bangladesh_map.htm>
and <http://healthmap.org/r/005T>
Bangladesh divisions:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bangladesh_divisions_english.png>
Pictures of PLB symptoms:
<http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2007/01/070102132649.jpg>
(tuber) and
<http://www-biol.paisley.ac.uk/bioref/Chromista/potato_blight.jpg>
(leaves)
Links
Late blight fact sheets:
<http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3102.html>
and <http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/factsheets/Potato_LateBlt.htm>
Disease history and background:
<http://www.apsnet.org/online/feature/lateblit/>
and <http://www.olympusmicro.com/micd/galleries/brightfield/potatoblight.html>
Late blight information and resources via:
<http://www.potato.org.uk/department/knowledge_transfer/fight_against_blight/advice_blight.html>
_P. infestans_ taxonomy:
<http://www.indexfungorum.org/Names/NamesRecord.asp?RecordID=232148>
Global Initiative on Late Blight:
<http://gilb.cip.cgiar.org/>.
- Mod.DHA]
[see also
in the
archive:
Blight & undiagnosed disease, potato, chilli - Bhutan
20090211.0612 Late blight, potato - India (02): (WB)
20090131.0435 Late blight, potato - Nepal (BR) 20090114.0162
Late blight, potato & tomato: USA (FL), Ireland 20090109.0083
Late blight, potato - India: (PB) 20090103.0018
2008
----
Late blight, potato - Papua New Guinea (02): recovery
20081103.3454 Late blight, potato - India, Canada alert
20080815.2534 Late blight, potato - Bhutan: (TM) 20080811.2473
Potato diseases - India: (West Bengal) 20080206.0477 Late
blight, potato - Papua New Guinea: recovery 20080121.0256 Fungal
diseases, potato - Bangladesh 20080107.0091
2007
----
Late blight, potato - India (02): (Punjab, W Bengal)
20071221.4099 Late blight, potato - UK: new strains
20071207.3939 Late blight, potato - India: (Punjab), alert
20071116.3715 Late blight, potato - India, UK 20070509.1491
2006
----
Late blight, potato - India (Kashmir) 20060424.1200 Late blight,
potato - USA (AK), Bangladesh 20060324.0911
2003
----
Late blight, potato - Papua New Guinea 20030306.0554]
