Abstract:
Two experiments were conducted for detection and identification of field diseases of
Gerbera plants and flowers during February, 2019 to May, 2019 in Jashore and Dhaka,
Bangladesh. Eighteen villages from 4 Unions of Jhikorgacha Upazila of Jashore district
were considered for field survey, viz. Godkhali, Patuapara, Sadirali, Belemath, Dhalipara,
Panisara, Syedpara, Nilkonthonogor, Kuliya, Krishnachandrapur, Hariya, Nimtola,
Baisha, Sharifpur, Chadpur, Mathuapara, Nirbashkhola and Shiorda. The disease
incidence and severity were recorded under natural epiphytic conditions. In Total, eleven
diseases were identified in the field. These were Alternaria leaf spot caused by Alternaria
alternata, Botrytis leaf blight caused by Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium stem rot caused by
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. chrysanthemi, Crown rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani, Foot
and root rot caused by unknown pathogen, Leaf curl by unidentified virus, Flower curl
caused by unidentified virus, Flower abnormality- a physiological disorder caused by
nutrient deficiency, Flower blight caused by Botrytis cinerea and Petal spot caused by
Alternaria alternata and Bipolaris sp. simultaneously. However, the Leaf blight disease
caused by Botrytis cinerea was the most common disease in Jashore. The incidence and
severity of the identified diseases varied significantly among these locations. The disease
incidence and severity were varied 0-56% and 0-26%, respectively. In most cases, the
farmers reported that the disease incidence and severity were higher in rainy season
followed by summer and winter. Depending on the disease incidence and severity, the
major diseases of inspected Gerbera plants were Leaf spot, Leaf blight, Flower blight and
Flower abnormality. In case of Leaf blight, the highest incidence (50%) was in Patuapara
and the lowest (8.33%) was in Chadpur village. However, the highest severity (16%) was
observed at Sadirali and lowest was (0.83%) at Mathuapara. In Leaf spot disease, the
highest incidence (43.33%) was observed at Kuliya and the lowest was recorded (8.33%)
at Belemath. The severity was highest (11.66%) at Godkhali and Nilkonthonogor and
lowest (1.33%) at Sharifpur and Mathuapara. Apart from this, a survey was carried out on
the socio-economic status of Gerbera growers, production technology and the opinions of
the farmers about field diseases to have a more clear view about Gerbera production in
Jashore, Bangladesh. Most of the farmers were male and their age was between 30 to 40
years. Very few of them were highly educated and most of them are engaged in Gerbera
cultivation from more than 5 years.
Description:
A Thesis
Submitted to the Department of Plant Pathology,
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka,
In partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE
IN
PLANT PATHOLOGY