Kashmir’s Apple Orchards Threatened by Disease Surge Amid Unstable Weather

Image courtesy: Travel My Kashmir

Gulzar Nakhasi

Published on Jul 26, 2025, 01:14 PM | 3 min read

Srinagar: Unstable and erratic weather conditions in recent weeks have created a fertile ground for a surge in apple crop diseases across Kashmir’s orchard-rich districts, raising alarms among growers and agricultural experts alike.

The region, known for producing some of the country’s finest apples, is currently witnessing a spike in Alternaria leaf blotch and necrotic leaf blotch, both of which can severely impact tree health, fruit quality, and yield.

Intermittent rainfall, prolonged periods of high humidity, and fluctuating temperatures have disrupted normal growth cycles. These weather conditions have not only stressed the trees but also provided an ideal environment for fungal and physiological disorders to take root.

Alternaria leaf blotch, caused by a fungal pathogen, typically begins with small yellowish spots on the surface of apple leaves. If left unchecked, the disease can lead to widespread defoliation, reduced photosynthesis, and eventually fruit drop and quality deterioration.

Necrotic leaf blotch, a non-infectious physiological disorder, usually affects certain apple varieties. It manifests as dark, necrotic patches on leaves and often leads to premature leaf drop, weakening the trees and hindering fruit maturity and bud development for the following season.

“I have noticed black spots on the leaves and some early fruit drop in my orchard,” said Bashir Ahmad, an orchardist from Shopian. “The weather keeps changing—sunny one day, then rainy the next. It’s becoming hard to manage. If it continues like this, we may suffer serious losses.”

Tariq Ahmad Mir, another experienced farmer from the same area, said that orchards located in low-lying, moisture-prone areas are more vulnerable to disease than those on elevated terrain.

“The excess moisture creates a microclimate that’s perfect for fungal activity,” he said. “Once Alternaria or necrotic blotch appears, they are hard to control. They affect the fruit’s color, size, and even reduce bud formation for next year.”

According to Dr. Waseem, Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology at SKUAST-Kashmir, approximately 30% of orchards in affected districts are showing signs of disease. He attributes the outbreak primarily to temperature variability and a lack of canopy management in traditional farming practices.

“Orchards with dense canopies and no summer pruning trap moisture and reduce air circulation, making them ideal for disease spread,” he explained. “We recommend summer pruning to improve airflow and light penetration and suggest zinc-based fungicides as a short-term solution.”

Agricultural experts also advise, regular monitoring of orchards for early symptoms, removal of infected leaves to reduce spore load, use of weather-based disease forecasting models to plan fungicide applications more effectively, balanced nutrient management, as poor nutrition can increase susceptibility

With the apple harvest season approaching, farmers are hoping for more stable weather and timely intervention to contain the diseases before the damage becomes irreversible.