A note of willow diseases in Phander Areas, Gilgit
A note of willow diseases in Phander Areas, Gilgit
Zakaullah
ABSTRACT
Intro:
During recent visits to the Northern Areas of Pakistan, three diseases of willows: canker, witche's-broom and shiny-black oily secretion incited by a bacterium, Mycoplasma-Like Bodies and aphids respectively were recorded. Bacterial canker was more common and damaging as compared with witche's-broom and aphids attack in Phander areas situated about 200 km north-west of Gilgit at an elevation ranging between 2286 and 2438 m. The important forest trees include willows and poplars. Three species of willows, i.e. Salix purpurea, S. seriocarpa, S. tetrasperma and a single species of poplar, Populus nigra (Lombardy poplar) were found commonly grown in the area. Nevertheless, a few hybrid poplars (P. X. euramericana) were also noticed around Phander Rest House. Willows are grown for fodder, basket-making, roof construction and for timber; whereas Lombardy poplar is a major timber species. Both the crops are raised vegetatively. A general practice with the locals is that they use willow cuttings (3.04 to 3.65 m long), obtained from the pollarded trees, for planting. The cut ends provide infection courts for many bacteria and decay fungi.
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