Kolshi, a citrus black fly disease, continues to affect the Orange orchards of the Vidarbha region. The Orange growers are suspecting the continuous spell of low temperature as the reason for the growing disease.

Kolshi disease is caused by a sucking pest - black fly (Aleurocanthus woglumi). The pest leads to fungal manifestation (Kolshi) on the leaves, which affects the photosynthesis process of the plants.

A farmer from Chikhali in Buldhana district told ‘The Hitavada’ that, the Orange trees are affected due to the ‘Kolshi’ disease due to the long spell of winter. There was no rain in the past two months. The rains wash out the fungal manifestation from the leaves. As the Kolshi started growing on the leaves, the farmers intensified spraying. Earlier, only two sprays were sufficient in the winter for orange trees. However, after the attack of Kolshi, the spraying was doubled and as a result, the expenditure, he said.