Diseases

Abstract

This chapter describes the following diseases infecting longan and litchi (Litchi chinensis): soilborne diseases (rot caused by Armillaria mellea, litchi decline, and longan decline); diseases in nurseries (caused by Fusarium, Pythium and Rhizoctonia species); foliar, floral, fruit, stem and preharvest diseases (algal spot caused by Cephaleuros virescens, corky bark caused by F. decemcellulare [Nectria rigidiuscula], downy blight caused by Peronophythora litchii, branch blight and fruit rot caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae, pepper spot caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides [Glomerella cingulata], leaf blight caused by Phomopsis species, Phytophthora-incited diseases, sooty mould and black mildew, witches' broom, and minor foliar and stem diseases); and postharvest diseases (anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum species, stem end rot, and other postharvest diseases). Information on symptoms, morphology of causal agents, vectors (insects and nematodes), and control strategies (mainly cultural and chemical) is provided.