Erbil investigates fungal disease affecting walnut trees in Balakayati region

ERBIL — The Directorate of Agricultural Research in Erbil has launched an investigation into a disease affecting walnut trees in the Balakayati region within the Soran Independent Administration, following reports of fungal infections impacting the trees.

In a statement, the directorate said, “After sending a team from our department’s plant protection unit to the Balakayati area, including the villages of Razhdoor, Walza, Rayat, and the Gallala sub-district, to examine the walnut orchards suspected of being infected by an unidentified disease, we collected samples of the trees and sent them to the laboratory. It was determined that the cause of the disease is linked to the spread of multiple types of fungal infections.”

The disease, which emerged after heavy rainfall this year, has weakened the walnut trees in the affected areas.

To combat the issue, the directorate has implemented several measures. These include pruning the infected branches, thoroughly cleaning up after each pruning to prevent the spread of the infection, and adjusting irrigation plans to suit soil types and avoid waterlogging.

Additionally, the walnut trees are being treated with a copper-based fungicide, and a combination of nutrients including copper, zinc, manganese, boron, potassium, and calcium is being applied to boost the trees’ immune response.

The trunks of the trees are also being treated with Bordeaux mixture up to a height of 1.5 to 2 meters, and any cuts or wounds on the trunks are being sealed to prevent further infection.

The research team is committed to ongoing monitoring of the situation to protect the health of the walnut trees and prevent the disease from spreading to other areas.

Walnuts are widely cultivated in the mountainous regions of the Kurdistan Region, where the climate and terrain provide ideal conditions for their growth. Among these regions, Hawraman is particularly known for its high-quality walnuts, prized for their rich flavor and high oil content.