Kochi: Lack of plant quarantine facility in airports in the state is posing a threat to the state biodiversity as there is no proper monitoring of the kinds of plants and seeds entering the state. This is despite the state having three international airports and Keralites over the years becoming big time collectors and owners of ornamental plants.
"We are seeing a new disease in the orchids that were brought in from Thailand recently. All the buds in plant are turning yellow and falling off before they turn into flowers," said Mercy, who had brought a new set of imported orchids recently. "I have been maintaining plants for several years now. This is a new disease and it is destroying the plants. I am afraid it will affect the rest of my plants also."
18/12/12 Times of India
