Ginger Plantation

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
RHIZOME ROT DISEASE OF GINGER
Prepared by Sheldon M. Elliott
Plant Protection Officer
Crop and Plant Protection Unit
July 2003
The spice trade generally considers Jamaica's ginger to be of the best quality and as a result, it commands a premium price on the world market. However, production has steadily declined overtime due mainly to rhizome rot disease in the major production areas. This has led many growers to abandon ginger cultivation.
Over the last five years the Plant Protection Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture has conducted research in the identification of the cause and control of this disease. The main pathogens associated with this disease are the fungus Fusarium spp. and the root knot nematode Meloidogyne sp.. Occasionally, the fungi Rhizoctonia solani, and Pythium sp., along with the bacterium Pseudomonas sp. have been isolated from diseased rhizomes.
Symptoms
Above-ground symptoms
Plants from infected rhizomes are stunted and yellow, lower leaves dry out and turn brown then eventually all aboveground shoots dry out completely. Plant collapse is very slow (up to several weeks).
Diseased ginger rhizomes
Diseased rhizomes show a brown discolouration, are normally shriveled in appearance and eventually decay leaving the outer shell intact with only fibrous internal tissue remaining.
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Use planting material from a disease free source, e.g. Tissue culture plantlets.
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Distribute progeny rhizomes from tissue culture plants to ginger growers in areas where the disease is absent or on lands previously not used for ginger production.
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Multiply seed pieces by the use of tissue culture plants on lands that were not previously used for ginger production.
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Practice crop rotation. Do not grow ginger for more than one crop on the same site.
The disease is spread unintentionally by the use of infected seed pieces from the previous crop, although these may appear normal and healthy. Hence, selecting clean material based on appearance may not be sufficient to control the disease.
Control Short term
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Discard all seed pieces showing any cracking injury or rot.
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Dip seed pieces in hot water at 50oC for 10 minutes if incidence of root knot was high in previous crop.
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Dip seed pieces in Ridomil MZ (0.2%) or Topsin M (0.2%) for 20 minutes and allow to air dry prior to planting.
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Keep land free from weeds at all times.
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Destroy all crop refuse especially if disease was present.
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Prepare land for planting well ahead of time and allow to burn.
Long term
For further information please contact:
Crop and Plant Protection Unit
Ministry of Agriculture
Bodles Research Station
Old Harbour P.O., St. Catherine
Jamaica, W.I.
Phone: (876) 983-2281/2267
Fax: (876) 983-2822
E-mail: ppu@moa.gov.jm
Rhizomes from tissue culture ginger plants
Top: harvested at 8 months
Bottom: harvested at 20 months
Left: Rhizomes from traditional seed piece harvested at 9 months
Right: Tissue culture ginger harvested at 20 months