Studies on Pestalotiopsis spp. affecting tea in southern India

Tea is the most popular and inexpensive beverage. It is manufactured from young shoots comprising two to three leaves and a bud of commercially grown tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze). Tea is grown in more than 50 countries, mostly in plantations. India with around 4,40,000 ha under tea cultivation is the largest producer and consumer of tea in the world. Total production per annum is around 850 m. kg of black tea, which counts for around 25% of global tea production. Tea gardens of southern India are spread in terrains of the Western Ghats in the three states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. Tea being a perennial crop is prone to the attack of many pests and diseases. Blister blight disease caused by Exobasidium vexans is the most serious diseases. Grey blight disease caused by Pestalotiopsis had gained importance due to large-scale mechanization of harvesting practices. The biology of the pathogen, host-pathogen interaction, clonal susceptibility was investigated and effective disease management practices are discussed.