Investigating the incidence and severity of field diseases impacting tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) cultivation: A case study in the Jashore district, Bangladesh

A research investigation was conducted in the Jashore district of Bangladesh to examine diseases affecting tuberose plants. The laboratory analysis was performed at the plant disease study facility at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The study encompassed eighteen villages across four unions within the Jhikargacha upazila of the Jashore district. The primary objective was to document the occurrence and severity of diseases in tuberose fields under natural conditions. Seven fungal diseases were detected in the natural field setting and were subjected to further scrutiny in the research facility. The pathogens responsible for these diseases were isolated and identified, revealing botrytis blight (<i>Botrytis cinerea</i>), blossom blight (<i>Fusarium equiseti</i>), alternaria leaf spot (<i>Alternaria polyanthi</i>), leaf tip blight (<i>Phoma</i> sp.), peduncle blight (<i>Lasidiplodia theobromae</i>), stem rot (<i>Sclerotium rolfsii</i>), and tuber rot (<i>Fusarium oxysporum</i>). Disease incidence ranged from 0 % to 64.33 %, and severity ranged from 0 % to 24.00 %. Stem rot, botrytis blight, alternaria leaf spot, and leaf tip blight were identified as significant challenges in tuberose cultivation in the Jashore district. This study represents the first documentation of tuberose pathogen prevalence in Bangladesh, providing valuable insights for disease identification and contributing to the improvement of tuberose cultivation practices in the region.