Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is one of the commercially important fruit crops of India. Wilt caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata Ell. and Halts is one of the major production constraints affecting its cultivation in all major growing areas of the country. Therefore, roving survey was conducted during 2018-19 and 2019-20 in major pomegranate growing southern districts of Karnataka viz., Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru Urban, Ramanagara, Chamarajanagara, Tumakuru and Chitradurga to pin down the status of the disease and results revealed that, wilt incidence was noticed in all the locations surveyed and it was ranged from 2.00 - 31.67 per cent. Maximum mean wilt incidence of 13.20 per cent was observed in Tumakuru district followed by Chitradurga (10.24 %) whereas; the least mean wilt incidence was recorded in Ramanagara district (3.20 %). Among nine taluks surveyed, the maximum wilt incidence was noticed in Sira taluk (22.50 %) of Tumakuru district followed by Hosadurga taluk (15.67 %) of Chitradurga district. Among the villages surveyed, the wilt incidence was found highest in Thogaragunte village (31.67 %) of Sira taluk of Tumakuru district followed by Kurubarahalli village (20.00 %) of Hosadurga taluk of Chitradurga district while, it was found lowest in Vijayapura village (2.00 %) of Devanahalli taluk of Bengaluru Rural district.

Disease incidence, Pomegranate wilt, Survey, Ceratocystis fimbriata.

— Wilt affected pomegranate plants produced typical symptoms of yellowing and drooping of foliage of one or few branches of plants. In severe cases, the defoliation and complete wilting of plants were observed within 2-3 months. — Pomegranate wilt incidence was varied from 2.00-31.67 per cent in the areas surveyed. The mean wilt incidence (13.20 %) was more in Tumakuru district followed by Chitradurga (10.24 %) whereas; the least incidence was recorded in Ramanagara district (3.20 %).

Navyashree S.E., Devappa V., Sangeetha C.G., Shankarappa T.H., Jayashree Ugalat, Honnabyraiah M. K. and Shivanna M. (2022). Incidence of Pomegranate Wilt in Southern Karnataka, India. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(2): 560-567.