Authorities in horticulture have asked growers to spray their orchards strictly as per the SKAUST spray schedule.
They said that we have received reports of massive scab from different areas of valley but this happens only as growers are not following advices of horticulture department.
“We once again advice growers to consult nearest KVKs of HDOs before spraying and follow the SKAUST spray schedule in letter and spirit under normal conditions,” authorities said.
Apple scab or black spot is caused by the fungus Venturia inaequalis. It infects leaves, shoots, buds, blossoms and fruit. It occurs almost everywhere apples are grown and is the most serious and widespread disease of this crop, especially important in regions with high rainfall and relative humidity during the growing season.
The symptoms usually appear as small spots on the underside of young leaves or as spots on either surface of older leaves. The spots (or lesions) are brown or olive-green and have an indefinite margin at first. The lesions on older leaves are more definite in outline, and become velvety-grey to sooty black. Sometimes the tissue below individual lesions becomes raised, giving such leaves a blistered, scabby appearance. The lesions merge to cover most of the leaf surface if infection is severe. Infected leaves are often twisted, distorted and stunted and tend to fall prematurely.
