Major Plant Diseases During the Monsoon and Their Preventive Measures

1. Mahali Disease in Arecanut:
Mahali is a major disease that affects arecanut during the monsoon season. As a preventive measure, a 1% Bordeaux mixture should be sprayed before the onset of the rains. The same treatment is recommended for nutmeg and banana plants. Additionally, ensure proper drainage channels are created to avoid water stagnation.

2. Bud Rot (Koompa Cheeyal) in Coconut:
This is a fungal disease commonly seen in coconut palms during the rainy season. Although it affects palms of all ages, it is most commonly seen in younger trees. Symptoms include yellowing and wilting of the central shoot (spear leaf), which eventually snaps and hangs down. The base of the leaves and the soft tissues of the crown begin to rot, emitting a foul odor. As the infection spreads to the stem, other leaves break and hang loosely. If not detected early, the entire palm may die.

Treatment:
At the onset of the disease, remove the infected and rotting tissues from the crown area. Apply Bordeaux paste on the cleaned area and protect it from rain until new leaves appear. The removed infected parts should be burned to avoid spreading. Also, spray a 1% Bordeaux mixture on surrounding palms to prevent the disease from spreading.

3. Quick Wilt (Foot Rot) Disease in Black Pepper:
Quick wilt (also known as foot rot) is commonly observed in pepper vines during the monsoon. As a preventive measure, mix 3 kg of Trichoderma with 90 kg of cow dung powder and 10 kg of neem cake. Moisten the mixture adequately and allow it to ferment for two weeks. Then, apply 2.5 kg of this mixture to the base of each pepper vine. This helps prevent the onset of the disease effectively.