Durian leaf blight, a fungal disease, is especially severe during the rainy season, making it difficult for growers to prevent and control. According to Mr. Lau, a farmer from Gua Musang, the application of Pencycuron 25% WP fungicide has shown excellent results in both prevention and treatment.

Known as the “King of Fruits”, durian is no longer unfamiliar to Malaysians. However, only durian growers truly understand the diseases and pests that affect durian trees. Durian leaf blight is a disease that many durian growers worry about. It appears from time to time, especially during bad weather or humid conditions.

Easily Spreads During the Rainy Season

Durian leaf blight is caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani. It usually hides in the soil, first infecting leaves that are close to the ground, and then spreading through wind and rain during the rainy season.

Recently, frequent rainfall in Gua Musang has made durian leaf blight easier to spread to nearby trees. This is especially serious in orchards with dense branches and leaves, without regular pruning and management. Infected leaves may show symptoms of drying and yellowing, while fungal threads continue to spread. Eventually, the leaves fall to the ground and become a source of pathogen accumulation, creating the possibility of reinfection.

A Pathogen That Does Not Depend on a Specific Host

Rhizoctonia solani was first discovered in the mid-19th century and was named by German mycologist Julius Kühn in 1868.

This fungus is an imperfect fungus under the family Ceratobasidiaceae. It does not have a sexual reproduction stage, and spores are also not commonly seen during the asexual stage. It usually spreads through wind and water by mycelium or sclerotia, and infects the plant from the root area. Contaminated soil or fallen diseased leaves, when splashed by rainwater, can help the disease spread from infected roots to other healthy leaves.

This fungus is widely present in soils from temperate to tropical regions around the world. It is a soil-borne pathogen that lives together with soil and does not depend on a specific host.

Professional Solution for Precise Control

Advansia’s Pencycuron 25% WP belongs to FRAC 20 and is specially used against Rhizoctonia solani. It has significant effects in both prevention and treatment. Its mode of action is to inhibit the synthesis and function of fungal cell walls, while suppressing mycelial growth to achieve disease control.

Mr. Lau from Gua Musang Old District shared that using Pencycuron 25% WP fungicide introduced by the company can effectively prevent and treat durian leaf blight. When combined with proper orchard environmental management, the preventive effect can be greatly improved.

Advansia recommends farmers to mix 20g of product with 20 litres of water and spray regularly to prevent and control durian leaf blight.

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