Medicinal Properties and Pests and Diseases of Noni - A Review

Noni, botanically known as Morinda citrfolia L, a miracle plant with more than 150 nutraceuticals were found growing naturally in all types of lands right from sea coast to interior and are now being cultivated as crop by the farmers of India. While its cultivation and medical significance is gaining popularity, it is important to understand various challenges, limiting factors and biotic stresses that the crop encounters. Extensive cultivation of noni has resulted in severe outbreak of pests and diseases such as aphids, thrips, mealy bugs, leaf blight, anthracnose, black flag, fruit rot, stem blight, sooty mold, stem canker and algal leaf spot. Root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita is one of the most damaging pathogens infesting the crop at the seedling stage in the nursery and carried to the main field. The research and development work carried out in India and elsewhere, and so an attempt is being made to review the available literature and presented here.