A sudden and widespread outbreak of bacterial canker has been reported in lemon orchards across Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra, raising alarms among citrus growers. Caused by the pathogen Xanthomonas axonopodis, the disease leads to blistered lesions on leaves, stems, and fruits causing premature fruit drop and commercial losses.
According to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the infection thrives in hot, humid, and poorly managed orchards. With erratic rainfall and temperature fluctuations this season, conditions have become ripe for bacterial multiplication.
Advisory for Farmers:
- Remove and destroy infected plant parts
- Avoid overhead irrigation and overcrowding in orchards
- Apply copper oxychloride (0.3%) + streptomycin sulfate (0.01%) as foliar spray
- Improve nutrient management and soil aeration
Local horticulture departments are conducting field visits and providing subsidized sprays and biosolutions to curb the spread. ICAR scientists recommend shifting to diseasetolerant rootstocks for longterm sustainability.
This serves as a reminder of the growing impact of climate sensitive crop diseases and the importance of integrated pest management (IPM) practices.
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