Occurrence of ginger foliar disease complex epidemics: Xanthomonas leaf blight, Proxipyricularia blast and Colletotrichum leaf spot in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, India

Abstract

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is one among the most valued and widely cultivated spice crops in the world. The major limitation to the production of ginger is its susceptibility to a wide range of pests and diseases. Intensive roving survey was conducted to know the disease severity and exact cause of ginger foliar disease complex in seven talukas viz., Shivamogga, Sagar, Soraba, Bhadravathi, Hosanagara, Thirthahalli and Shikaripura of Shivamogga district, Karnataka during June to July 2025. From this study we found three pathogens responsible for epidemics – Bacterial leaf blight caused by Xanthomonas axanopodis pv. zingiberis is the first report from India and world, Proxipyricularia zingiberis (=Pyricularia zingiberis) cause blast and Colletotrichum zingiberis cause leaf spot. Though, all the three pathogens present in 66 fields in 59 villages of seven talukas in moderate to severe form but leaf spot was in low to moderate form.