Abstract

Spike disease of sandal, caused by a mycoplasma-like organism, has recently been recorded in Kerala. A gravity-flow infusion technique was used to compare tetracycline compounds for control of this disease. All the compounds, including doxycycline and oxytetracycline, were effective when 500 mg/tree was infused in 500 ml water, but disease remission lasted for only 4 months. Repeated infusions failed to give complete remission. Increasing the concn of tetracycline to 4-8 g/tree gave remission for 7-8 monthsat 12 g/tree, phytotoxicity was observed