Symptoms

  • This phanerogamic parasite is most common on sapota wherever the crop is cultivated nearby hilly areas. 
  • This parasite is a glabrous shrub with green foliage. Stem of the parasite is thick and erect and occur in cluster at the point of attack (Plate 1).
  • It produces long tubular flowers, which give rise to pinkish red juicy fruits, which are liked by birds and animals (Plate 2). Birds swallow the seed and excrete through dropping and wherever they sit and deposit the seeds on the host tree, branches. Seeds germinate and produce haustoria. The penetrated host tissue becomes swell to form tumors (Plate 3). Some time produce pseudo roots on affected branch (Plate 4).
  • The affected branches of the trees produce small pale green leaves and ultimately the quality and yield of fruits from affected trees drastically reduced.