Context:
Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) has issued an advisory for potato farmers, warning of a high risk of late blight disease
Late Blight Diseases:
- One of the most serious fungal diseases
- Primarily affect – Tomatoes and potatoes.
- Transmission – Spread from infected transplants
- Spores of this fungus can be airborne and travel great distances in storms.
- Rain deposits spores on plants, causing infection.
- Occur repeatedly if favored by cool, wet weather
- Symptoms –
- Appearance of Lesions (round or irregularly shaped areas that range in colour from dark green to purplish black) on the leaves, petioles, and stems.
- Whitish growth of spore-producing structures under leaf surfaces.
- Secondary fungi and bacteria (particularly Erwinia species) often invade potato tubers and produce rotting of tubers.
- Mitigation – Application of fungicide such as Mancozeb, Fermion and Cymoxanil
Source: Hindustan Times
Previous Year Question
Consider the following diseases
1. Diphtheria
2. Chickenpox
3. Smallpox
Which of the above diseases has/have been eradicated in India?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Smallpox has been eradicated by 1977 but diphtheria and chickenpox cases are still present.
