Pink Disease of Citrus

Pink Disease (Pellicularia salmonicolour): Usually the disease appears during or just after monsoon rains. In the early stages branches and leaves wilt and die. The affected branches are covered with a fine silvery-white film of mycelium. From the characteristic pink colour produced by the fungus on the branches, the disease is aptly called the pink disease. When the bark is severely infected it gets shredded, and the wood is exposed. Longitudinal cracking and gumming of the branches may also take place.

Control : All the diseased portions should be trimmed and the cut ends painted with Bordeaux paste. Spraying of Bordeaux mixture (5-5-50) mixed with crude oil emulsion destroys the mycelium in the crotches.