Abstract

Bamboo, a major non-wood forest produce, occupies a large tracts of forest land in Kerala. Bambusa bambos, Dendrocalamus strictus and Ochlandra spp. (reed bamboos) are the commercially exploited species in the State. Besides the biotic interference, diseases have been found to play major role in limiting the stand productivity. A systematic disease survey conducted during 1987-1992 in 22 representative areas of natural stands and plantations of bamboos, recorded a total of 27 diseases affecting different parts of bamboos. Altogether 32 fungi and one mycoplasma like organism (MLO) were recorded. Rot of emerging and growing culms, and little leaf disease were the potential diseases which have affected the stand productivity considerably. Rot of emerging culm caused by Fusarium moniliforme var. intermedium occurred both in plantations and natural stands. In plantations, percentage of disease incidence varied from 5. 50 to 25. 50 depending upon the locality, the highest percent