Neem trees, a beloved symbol of nature, medicine, and culture in India, are facing a serious threat. Across Hyderabad and many districts of Telangana, these trees are showing signs of widespread decline, known as dieback. The Forest College and Research Institute (FCRI) in Mulugu, Hyderabad, has launched a major scientific study to find out why this is happening.
What is Neem Dieback?
Neem dieback is when the top branches of the tree start to dry out, especially after the monsoon season. The leaves become thinner, and the tree produces fewer flowers and fruits. In some cases, large parts of the tree’s canopy can be affected. This visible damage has caused worry among the public, especially in cities where neem trees help keep the environment cool and support local wildlife.
What is Causing the Dieback?
Scientists at FCRI have identified a specific type of fungus, called *Phomopsis azadirachtae*, as the main cause of the disease. This fungus becomes active during the cooler months, from October to February. During this time, the drying of branches is most noticeable. Usually, by March, when the weather warms up, most neem trees start to recover on their own, as they are a very hardy native species.
While the fungus was previously found mainly in northern India, it has now spread to southern states like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The dieback might be temporary, but it has important effects on the environment. When trees lose their branches, they produce fewer flowers and fruits. This means fewer neem seeds are made. Since birds help spread neem seeds to grow new trees, less fruit means less natural growth of young neem trees. This could threaten the future of neem populations.
Good News for Health
It is important to know that neem dieback does not affect human health. Neem trees remain safe to use for traditional medicines and other purposes. The disease only impacts the tree itself.
Past Attempts to Treat the Disease
In the past, FCRI developed a treatment plan using fungicides. This involved applying different types of sprays at specific times to fight both the fungus and any insects that might be present. A small study showed that trees treated with this method looked better, with new leaves growing and the canopy improving.
However, other methods suggested by agricultural experts, like digging trenches around the trees, watering them deeply, and spraying fungicides, did not always work well in city environments. Often, the trees recovered naturally with the arrival of summer, making it hard to tell if the treatment had actually helped. By the time the trees recovered, the damage had already been done.
Need for More Research
Because of these limitations, FCRI is now starting a detailed, long-term research project. This study will try to understand why the *Phomopsis azadirachtae* fungus becomes so active at certain times of the year. The goal is to find ways to prevent infections before they start, rather than just treating them afterwards.
The research will look at different factors that might stress the trees in the city, such as not enough water, air pollution, soil problems, and changes in weather. They will also collect samples from natural, untouched areas to see if environmental stress plays a big role in the disease. If the infection levels are the same in both rural and urban areas, it would suggest that pollution or climate change alone are not the main causes.
Finding Resilient Trees
Another important part of the study is to find the neem trees that are not getting sick, even though many around them are. By studying these healthy, strong trees, scientists hope to understand what makes them resistant. They plan to develop methods to grow more disease-resistant neem seedlings using techniques like tissue culture. These resilient trees could be used in future tree-planting projects and efforts to make cities greener.
A Call for Everyone to Help
FCRI says that neem dieback is a natural process and not caused by human actions. However, they are asking for everyone to work together. This includes city councils, forest and agriculture departments, schools, environmental groups, and the public. People can help by reporting badly affected trees and assisting scientists with collecting samples. This information will be very important for the research.
“Neem is not just a tree – it is part of our cultural and ecological heritage,” said V Krishna, Dean of FCRI. “Protecting it is both a scientific duty and a cultural responsibility. With careful research and timely help, neem trees will recover and continue to thrive across Telangana and India.”