treatment_knowledge.json

{
  "cashew_anthracnose": {
    "crop": "Cashew",
    "disease": "Anthracnose",
    "pathogen": "Colletotrichum gloeosporioides",
    "symptoms": "Dark, sunken lesions on leaves, twigs, and nuts. Leaves show irregular brown-black spots that may merge, causing defoliation. Flower blight reduces nut set.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "A few scattered dark spots on leaves, less than 10% leaf area affected.",
      "moderate": "Multiple merging lesions covering 10-40% of leaf area, some twig dieback visible.",
      "severe": "Extensive necrosis, heavy defoliation, flower blight, and nut drop."
    },
    "treatment": "Prune and destroy infected branches. Apply copper-based fungicides (e.g., Bordeaux mixture) preventively before flowering. Use systemic fungicides like carbendazim or mancozeb during wet seasons. Ensure proper spacing for air circulation.",
    "prevention": "Plant resistant varieties. Maintain canopy hygiene by removing fallen debris. Avoid overhead irrigation. Apply fungicides at early flowering stage."
  },
  "cashew_gumosis": {
    "crop": "Cashew",
    "disease": "Gummosis",
    "pathogen": "Lasiodiplodia theobromae",
    "symptoms": "Exudation of gummy, resinous sap from trunk and branches. Bark cracking and peeling. Wilting and drying of affected branches.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "Small gum deposits on one or two branches, tree otherwise healthy.",
      "moderate": "Multiple branches showing gum exudation, some bark cracking.",
      "severe": "Extensive gum flow from the main trunk, branch dieback, canopy thinning."
    },
    "treatment": "Remove and burn heavily infected branches. Apply copper oxychloride paste to wounds after pruning. Improve tree vigor with balanced fertilization. Avoid mechanical injuries to the trunk.",
    "prevention": "Avoid wounding trees during harvesting. Maintain tree health with proper nutrition. Apply Bordeaux paste to pruning wounds. Ensure good drainage around the root zone."
  },
  "cashew_healthy": {
    "crop": "Cashew",
    "disease": "Healthy",
    "pathogen": null,
    "symptoms": "No disease symptoms. Leaves are uniformly green, smooth, and intact. No lesions, spots, or discoloration.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "N/A — plant appears healthy.",
      "moderate": "N/A — plant appears healthy.",
      "severe": "N/A — plant appears healthy."
    },
    "treatment": "No treatment needed. Continue standard care practices.",
    "prevention": "Maintain regular fertilization schedule. Monitor for early signs of pest or disease. Ensure proper irrigation and drainage."
  },
  "cashew_leaf_miner": {
    "crop": "Cashew",
    "disease": "Leaf Miner",
    "pathogen": "Acrocercops syngramma (insect pest)",
    "symptoms": "Serpentine mines (winding trails) visible on leaf surfaces. Leaves appear blistered with silvery or whitish patches. Heavily mined leaves curl and dry up.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "A few visible mines on scattered leaves, less than 10% of canopy affected.",
      "moderate": "Multiple mines per leaf on 10-30% of canopy, some leaf curling.",
      "severe": "Most leaves heavily mined, extensive curling, premature leaf drop."
    },
    "treatment": "Spray neem oil or neem-based insecticides. Use systemic insecticides like monocrotophos for severe infestations. Remove and destroy heavily infested leaves. Encourage natural predators like parasitic wasps.",
    "prevention": "Monitor for early signs of mining trails. Apply neem cake to soil around trees. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization which promotes tender growth. Use pheromone traps for adult moths."
  },
  "cashew_red_rust": {
    "crop": "Cashew",
    "disease": "Red Rust",
    "pathogen": "Cephaleuros virescens (algal disease)",
    "symptoms": "Reddish-orange, velvety patches on upper leaf surface. Affected areas are slightly raised. Leaves may show premature aging around affected spots.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "A few small reddish patches on older leaves.",
      "moderate": "Multiple patches on 20-40% of leaves, some premature leaf drop.",
      "severe": "Widespread rust-colored patches across most leaves and twigs."
    },
    "treatment": "Apply copper-based fungicides (copper hydroxide or copper oxychloride). Prune affected branches to improve air circulation. Apply during early onset for best results.",
    "prevention": "Ensure good canopy ventilation through proper spacing and pruning. Avoid waterlogged conditions. Apply preventive copper sprays before the rainy season."
  },
  "cassava_bacterial_blight": {
    "crop": "Cassava",
    "disease": "Bacterial Blight",
    "pathogen": "Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis",
    "symptoms": "Angular, water-soaked leaf spots that turn brown. Wilting and drooping of shoot tips. Gum exudation from stems. In severe cases, complete shoot dieback.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "Small angular spots on a few leaves, plant otherwise growing normally.",
      "moderate": "Multiple leaves with expanding lesions, some tip wilting visible.",
      "severe": "Widespread wilting, stem gum exudation, shoot dieback, plant collapse."
    },
    "treatment": "Remove and burn infected plant parts immediately. There are no effective chemical treatments — management is primarily cultural. Use disease-free planting material. Rotate crops to break disease cycle.",
    "prevention": "Use certified disease-free stem cuttings. Plant resistant varieties (e.g., TME 419, IITA-improved lines). Avoid working in fields when plants are wet. Practice crop rotation with non-host crops for 2-3 seasons."
  },
  "cassava_brown_spot": {
    "crop": "Cassava",
    "disease": "Brown Leaf Spot",
    "pathogen": "Cercosporidium henningsii",
    "symptoms": "Circular to irregular brown spots on both leaf surfaces. Spots have a dark brown center with a lighter brown margin. Older leaves affected first.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "Small scattered brown spots on lower leaves only.",
      "moderate": "Spots on multiple leaf levels, some leaf yellowing.",
      "severe": "Extensive spotting, premature defoliation of lower canopy."
    },
    "treatment": "Apply copper-based fungicides or mancozeb. Remove and destroy severely infected lower leaves. Improve air circulation by adjusting plant spacing.",
    "prevention": "Plant resistant cultivars. Avoid excessive plant density. Practice crop rotation. Remove crop residues after harvest."
  },
  "cassava_green_mite": {
    "crop": "Cassava",
    "disease": "Green Mite Damage",
    "pathogen": "Mononychellus tanajoa (spider mite)",
    "symptoms": "Pale yellow spotting (chlorosis) on young leaves. Leaves become reduced in size and distorted. Growing points may appear bushy due to shortened internodes. In dry conditions, leaves may appear scorched.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "Light chlorotic speckling on newest leaves, plant growth unaffected.",
      "moderate": "Noticeable leaf size reduction, moderate chlorosis on several leaves.",
      "severe": "Severe leaf distortion, stunted growth, candle-stick appearance of growing points."
    },
    "treatment": "Introduce biological control agents (predatory mites like Typhlodromalus aripo). Apply sulfur-based or abamectin miticides for severe outbreaks. Irrigate plants during dry spells to reduce mite pressure.",
    "prevention": "Use resistant/tolerant varieties. Plant early in the rainy season to establish before dry-season mite buildup. Avoid carrying infested planting material between fields. Conserve natural enemies."
  },
  "cassava_healthy": {
    "crop": "Cassava",
    "disease": "Healthy",
    "pathogen": null,
    "symptoms": "No disease symptoms. Leaves are characteristically palmate (lobed), uniformly green, and turgid. No spots, wilting, or discoloration.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "N/A — plant appears healthy.",
      "moderate": "N/A — plant appears healthy.",
      "severe": "N/A — plant appears healthy."
    },
    "treatment": "No treatment needed. Continue standard care practices.",
    "prevention": "Use disease-free planting material. Maintain proper spacing and weed management. Apply balanced fertilization."
  },
  "cassava_mosaic": {
    "crop": "Cassava",
    "disease": "Mosaic Disease",
    "pathogen": "Cassava Mosaic Geminiviruses (CMGs), transmitted by whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)",
    "symptoms": "Distorted leaves with mosaic pattern of yellow and green patches. Leaf size reduction and curling. Stunted plant growth. Reduced tuber yield.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "Light mosaic pattern on a few leaves, plant growth mostly normal.",
      "moderate": "Clear mosaic on multiple leaves, noticeable size reduction and some curling.",
      "severe": "Severe distortion, stunting, most leaves showing strong mosaic, significant yield loss."
    },
    "treatment": "No chemical cure exists. Remove and destroy severely infected plants (roguing). Replant with virus-free, resistant cuttings. Control whitefly vectors with neem-based insecticides or yellow sticky traps.",
    "prevention": "Plant CMD-resistant varieties (e.g., IITA-bred TME lines). Source planting material from certified disease-free nurseries. Control whitefly populations. Practice phytosanitation."
  },
  "maize_fall_armyworm": {
    "crop": "Maize",
    "disease": "Fall Armyworm Damage",
    "pathogen": "Spodoptera frugiperda (insect pest)",
    "symptoms": "Ragged feeding damage on leaves with visible frass (excrement). Larvae bore into the whorl, causing 'windowpane' effect on leaves. Older larvae may bore into ears and tassels.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "A few leaves showing small feeding holes, larvae just arrived.",
      "moderate": "Multiple leaves with ragged holes, frass visible in whorl, small-medium larvae present.",
      "severe": "Extensive defoliation, larvae in most whorls, potential ear damage."
    },
    "treatment": "Apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) sprays for early-stage larvae. Use emamectin benzoate or chlorantraniliprole for larger larvae. Apply into the whorl where larvae hide. Handpick larvae in small plots.",
    "prevention": "Plant early to avoid peak armyworm season. Use Bt-maize varieties where available. Scout fields weekly during vegetative stage. Encourage natural enemies (parasitic wasps, birds). Use pheromone traps for monitoring."
  },
  "maize_grasshoper": {
    "crop": "Maize",
    "disease": "Grasshopper Damage",
    "pathogen": "Various grasshopper species (Orthoptera)",
    "symptoms": "Irregular, chewed leaf margins. Leaves may be stripped to the midrib in severe cases. Feeding starts from leaf edges inward.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "Minor leaf edge feeding on scattered plants.",
      "moderate": "Noticeable defoliation on many plants, some leaves stripped to midrib.",
      "severe": "Severe defoliation across the field, many leaves reduced to midribs."
    },
    "treatment": "Apply carbaryl or malathion for severe outbreaks. Use bait formulations (bran + insecticide) along field borders. Biological control with Nosema locustae (grasshopper pathogen). Hand-collect in small fields.",
    "prevention": "Maintain clean field borders to reduce egg-laying sites. Early planting reduces overlap with grasshopper hatching season. Encourage birds and other natural predators. Till soil after harvest to expose eggs."
  },
  "maize_healthy": {
    "crop": "Maize",
    "disease": "Healthy",
    "pathogen": null,
    "symptoms": "No disease or pest symptoms. Leaves are broad, uniformly green, and upright. No feeding damage, spots, or discoloration.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "N/A — plant appears healthy.",
      "moderate": "N/A — plant appears healthy.",
      "severe": "N/A — plant appears healthy."
    },
    "treatment": "No treatment needed. Continue standard care practices.",
    "prevention": "Practice crop rotation. Maintain proper fertilization and irrigation. Scout regularly for early pest or disease signs."
  },
  "maize_leaf_beetle": {
    "crop": "Maize",
    "disease": "Leaf Beetle Damage",
    "pathogen": "Diabrotica spp. or Chaetocnema spp. (Chrysomelidae)",
    "symptoms": "Long, narrow feeding scars parallel to leaf veins. Small, elongated holes in leaves creating a 'scratch' pattern. Young plants are most susceptible.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "Light scratching on a few leaves, cosmetic damage only.",
      "moderate": "Multiple leaves showing feeding scars, some growth reduction.",
      "severe": "Extensive scarring, heavy feeding on young plants, potential silk clipping affecting pollination."
    },
    "treatment": "Apply contact insecticides (pyrethroids) if beetle counts exceed threshold. Seed treatments with neonicotinoids provide early-season protection. Target adult beetles during silk emergence to protect pollination.",
    "prevention": "Rotate crops (breaks rootworm beetle cycle). Use seed-treated varieties. Monitor beetle populations with yellow sticky traps. Maintain healthy, vigorous plants to tolerate moderate damage."
  },
  "maize_leaf_blight": {
    "crop": "Maize",
    "disease": "Leaf Blight",
    "pathogen": "Exserohilum turcicum (Northern Corn Leaf Blight) or Bipolaris maydis (Southern Corn Leaf Blight)",
    "symptoms": "Long, elliptical, grayish-green to tan lesions on leaves. Northern type: cigar-shaped lesions 3-15 cm long. Southern type: smaller, tan, rectangular lesions. Lesions may coalesce, killing entire leaves.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "A few lesions on lower leaves only.",
      "moderate": "Lesions on multiple leaf levels, some coalescing.",
      "severe": "Lesions on ear-leaf and above, extensive leaf death, yield loss expected."
    },
    "treatment": "Apply foliar fungicides (azoxystrobin, propiconazole, or pyraclostrobin) at first signs of disease above the ear leaf. Timing is critical — application before tasseling gives best ROI.",
    "prevention": "Plant resistant hybrids (Ht genes for NCLB resistance). Rotate with non-host crops. Till crop residue to reduce inoculum. Avoid continuous maize planting."
  },
  "maize_leaf_spot": {
    "crop": "Maize",
    "disease": "Leaf Spot",
    "pathogen": "Bipolaris zeicola or Phyllosticta maydis",
    "symptoms": "Small, round to oval, tan or brown spots with dark borders on leaves. Spots are typically 1-5 mm in diameter. May be surrounded by a yellow halo.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "Scattered small spots on lower leaves.",
      "moderate": "Numerous spots on multiple leaves, some coalescing.",
      "severe": "Dense spotting across the canopy, significant premature leaf senescence."
    },
    "treatment": "Apply foliar fungicides (mancozeb, chlorothalonil, or strobilurins) if disease is progressing rapidly. Usually economical only when lesions appear before silking.",
    "prevention": "Use resistant hybrids. Rotate crops. Manage residue through tillage. Avoid late planting which increases disease pressure."
  },
  "maize_streak_virus": {
    "crop": "Maize",
    "disease": "Maize Streak Virus",
    "pathogen": "Maize Streak Virus (MSV), transmitted by leafhopper (Cicadulina mbila)",
    "symptoms": "Characteristic parallel streaks of pale yellow along leaf veins. Streaks are narrow and discontinuous. Stunted plant growth. Young plants are most severely affected.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "Faint streaking on one or two leaves, plant growing normally.",
      "moderate": "Clear streaking on multiple leaves, some growth reduction.",
      "severe": "Severe stunting, extensive streaking on all leaves, poor ear development."
    },
    "treatment": "No chemical cure. Remove and destroy severely infected plants. Control leafhopper vectors with pyrethroid insecticides. Focus management on early-stage protection.",
    "prevention": "Plant MSV-resistant varieties (most critical control). Adjust planting dates to avoid peak leafhopper activity. Control weeds that host leafhoppers. Use seed treatments with systemic insecticides."
  },
  "tomato_healthy": {
    "crop": "Tomato",
    "disease": "Healthy",
    "pathogen": null,
    "symptoms": "No disease symptoms. Leaves are compound, uniformly green, and slightly fuzzy (pubescent). No spots, wilting, curling, or discoloration.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "N/A — plant appears healthy.",
      "moderate": "N/A — plant appears healthy.",
      "severe": "N/A — plant appears healthy."
    },
    "treatment": "No treatment needed. Continue standard care practices.",
    "prevention": "Maintain proper staking and pruning for air circulation. Water at the base to keep foliage dry. Apply preventive fungicides in humid climates."
  },
  "tomato_leaf_blight": {
    "crop": "Tomato",
    "disease": "Leaf Blight",
    "pathogen": "Alternaria solani (Early Blight) or Phytophthora infestans (Late Blight)",
    "symptoms": "Early blight: concentric ring ('target spot') lesions, starting on lower leaves. Late blight: large, water-soaked, dark brown lesions with white mold on undersides in humid conditions.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "A few spots on lower/older leaves only.",
      "moderate": "Lesions on multiple leaf levels, some defoliation of lower canopy.",
      "severe": "Rapid spread to upper canopy, fruit infection, potential total crop loss (especially late blight)."
    },
    "treatment": "Early blight: apply chlorothalonil, mancozeb, or azoxystrobin. Late blight: apply metalaxyl/mancozeb immediately — late blight spreads extremely fast. Remove and destroy infected plant material. Do not compost infected tissue.",
    "prevention": "Stake and prune for air circulation. Mulch to prevent soil splash. Water in the morning at soil level. Rotate with non-solanaceous crops for 3+ years. Use resistant varieties."
  },
  "tomato_leaf_curl": {
    "crop": "Tomato",
    "disease": "Leaf Curl",
    "pathogen": "Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV), transmitted by whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)",
    "symptoms": "Upward curling and cupping of leaves. Leaves become leathery and crinkled. Yellow margins on leaves. Stunted plant growth. Flower drop and reduced fruit set.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "Slight curling on newest leaves, plant still productive.",
      "moderate": "Pronounced curling on multiple leaves, some yellowing, reduced fruit set.",
      "severe": "Severe stunting, most leaves curled and yellow, minimal or no fruit production."
    },
    "treatment": "No cure for infected plants. Remove and destroy severely infected plants. Control whiteflies with imidacloprid, pyriproxyfen, or neem oil. Use reflective mulch to repel whiteflies.",
    "prevention": "Use TYLCV-resistant tomato varieties. Install fine-mesh insect nets. Use yellow sticky traps. Transplant only healthy seedlings. Maintain a crop-free period to break the virus cycle."
  },
  "tomato_septoria_leaf_spot": {
    "crop": "Tomato",
    "disease": "Septoria Leaf Spot",
    "pathogen": "Septoria lycopersici",
    "symptoms": "Numerous small (2-5 mm), circular spots with dark brown borders and gray centers. Tiny black dots (pycnidia) visible in spot centers under magnification. Starts on lower leaves and moves upward.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "A few spots on the lowest leaves.",
      "moderate": "Spots on multiple leaf levels, lower leaves beginning to yellow and drop.",
      "severe": "Extensive defoliation, spots reaching upper canopy, fruit exposed to sunscald."
    },
    "treatment": "Apply fungicides containing chlorothalonil, mancozeb, or copper. Begin applications at first sign of disease and repeat every 7-10 days. Remove and destroy infected lower leaves to slow spread.",
    "prevention": "Mulch around plants to prevent soil splash. Avoid overhead watering. Stake plants for air circulation. Rotate crops — do not plant tomatoes in same spot for 3 years. Remove all plant debris at end of season."
  },
  "tomato_verticulium_wilt": {
    "crop": "Tomato",
    "disease": "Verticillium Wilt",
    "pathogen": "Verticillium dahliae",
    "symptoms": "Yellowing (chlorosis) starts on one side of the leaf or plant ('half-leaf' symptom). Lower leaves wilt and turn brown while upper leaves remain green initially. Brown discoloration of vascular tissue visible when stem is cut.",
    "severity_cues": {
      "mild": "Slight yellowing on a few lower leaves, plant otherwise vigorous.",
      "moderate": "One-sided yellowing and wilting on several branches, reduced vigor.",
      "severe": "Extensive wilting, most lower leaves dead, stunting, reduced fruit production."
    },
    "treatment": "No effective chemical treatment once plants are infected. Remove and destroy infected plants. Solarize soil in affected areas (cover with clear plastic for 4-6 weeks in hot weather). Add beneficial fungi (Trichoderma) to soil.",
    "prevention": "Plant resistant varieties (look for 'V' designation). Practice long crop rotation (4+ years without solanaceous crops). Maintain soil pH around 6.5-7.0. Avoid overwatering and ensure good drainage."
  }
}