Vol. 9, Special Issue 11, Part P (2025)

Plant pathogens persist during host-dormant periods to maintain the disease cycle and serve as primary inoculum for the following season. Dormant mycelium plays a crucial role in survival, spread, and initiation of diseases. The present investigation was carried out to assess the survival capacity of the arecanut leaf spot pathogen under two ecological conditions—subsoil burial and room-temperature storage. Naturally infected leaf tissues were placed at different soil depths and in ambient conditions, and samples were periodically recovered to determine pathogen viability, sporulation ability, and pathogenicity.

The study evaluated the survivability of the arecanut leaf spot pathogen under ambient room temperature and sub-soil conditions to understand its role in inoculum carryover. Naturally infected leaf tissues were stored at room temperature and buried at 10, 20 and 30 cm depths, and samples were periodically assessed for mycelial viability, sporulation and pathogenicity. The pathogen survived for 243 days at room temperature and for 243, 151 and 182 days at 10, 20 and 30 cm depths, respectively. Prolonged survival was supported by nutrient-rich necrotic tissues and the stable soil microenvironment. The results confirm that the pathogen can overwinter in infected debris and soil, serving as a primary inoculum source for subsequent disease cycles. Hence, composting or incorporation of diseased arecanut leaves into soil should be avoided to reduce inoculum build-up and minimise future outbreaks.