Alternaria epidemic of apple in Kashmir

During the months of July-August 2013, apple orchards of the valley were suddenly struck with Alternaria disease which was so far considered a disease of minor importance as compared to apple scab. The disease spread like wild fire leading to very high severity and often resulted in extensive defoliation and fruit fall in almost all the orchards through the valley, resulting into a widespread epidemic. The various factors which lead to this epidemic were a possible effect of climate change leading to untimely prolonged rains following high temperatures. The situation was worsened due to extensive presence of susceptible delicious cultivars, non adherence of practice of orchard sanitation, use of inappropriate or spurious fungicides and absence of disease forecasting system in the valley.