Quarantine and Other Important Diseases Affecting Economic Crops in the Cordillera

Abstract

The Cordillera Administrative Region provides the ideal environment for the production of planting materials of semi-temperate vegetables, root crops, beverages, fruits and ornamentals. However, the presence of degenerative diseases caused by viruses do not only reduce yield in time but also affects the planting materials produced. Under the quarantine regulations, the movement of planting material from country of origin to the destination country primarily requires the indexing of plant viruses before they are transported and planted in the field. Hence, a survey was conducted in Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province to identify and assess the incidence and severity of diseases of quarantine importance affecting high value crops.

For virus diseases, 100% incidence of Tomato Mosaic Virus (TMV) was recorded in one hectare tomato farm in Bokod, Benguet; Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) with 40% incidence at Sablan, Benguet (0.20 ha); 20% in Balbalan, Kalinga (0.03 ha), 30% at Conner, Apayao (2.5 ha) and 20% in Aguinaldo, Ifugao (1.5 ha); Turnip Yellow Mosaic Virus (TYMV) in 80% of Chinese cabbage plants (0.20 ha) at Buguias, Benguet;15% incidence of Potato Aucuba Mosaic Virus (PAMV) in potato at Bauko, Mountain Province (0.25 ha); and 12% incidence of yellowing, little leaf and mosaic symptoms in coffee seedlings in nurseries in Tublay, Benguet.

For bacterial diseases, 10% incidence of mushroom bacterial blotch (Pseudomonas sp.) was noted in La Trinidad and Ralstonia solanacearum Race 1 causing bacterial wilt was isolated from seed potatoes collected in Atok, Benguet. Rose crown gall was known to be a serious problem in white rose in Alno, La Trinidad, Benguet.

Fungal diseases documented were yam anthracnose, chrysanthemum white rust, anthurium leaf spot, strawberry leaf spot and berry rot, coffee leaf spot and Fusarium wilt in banana while those due by fungal-like organisms were potato late blight and taro leaf blight.