BLIGHT MENACES RUBBER INDUSTRY WITH NO REMEDY IN SIGHT

The fungus causing the blight called Colletotrichum tropicale in rubber cultivation has been identified for the first time in the world by a team of researchers of the Sri Lanka Rubber Research Institute.

- By Nayanajeewa Bandara

Colletotrichumtropicale is a condition that affects rubber cultivation all over the world. It retards the main function of the leaf which is to produce food for the plant by photosysthesis, thus reducing output of latex.

The causes of this blight have been identified to have changed at various times. In 1905, the fungi that caused this blight had been identified as Colletotrichum Gloeosporioides and in 1997 as Colletortrichumacutatum. Subsequently it had been identified as Colletotrichum simmondsi, Colletotrichum citri, Colletotrichum nymphaeae, Colletrotrichum laticiphilum and Colletotrichum siamense.

However, the researchers of Sri Lanka Rubber Research Institute who conducted the research have identified Colletotrichum tropicale as the main fungus causing the blight.