Management of Diseases of Important Agriculture Crops of Tamil Nadu
Management of Diseases of Important Agriculture Crops of Tamil Nadu
Management of Diseases of Important Agriculture Crops of Tamil Nadu
Introduction:
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1.DISEASES OF RICE
1. Blast
Causal organism : Magnoporthe grisea
Symptoms:The fungus infects leaf, leaf sheath, culm, node and neck of
the panicle. On leaves, the spots are typically spindle shaped (Eye
shaped) with dark brown margin and grey center (Leaf blast). Spots are
sometimes encircled by yellow halo. Several spots coalesce resulting in
bigger lesions, leading to drying of foliage.
Node infection(Node blast) : On nodes, necrotic black lesions are
observed which cause weakening and breaking of nodes.
Neck infection (Neck blast) :The neck region of affected panicle
becomes black, brittle, necrotic and breaks. Grains become chaffy or
partially filled.
Favourable Conditions : Intermittent drizzles, cloudy weather, more of
rainy days, longer duration of dew high relative humidity (93-99 per
cent);Low night temperature (between 15-20˚C or less than
26˚C);Aavailability of collateral hosts and excess dose of nitrogen.
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Favourable Conditions : Temperature of 25-30˚C with relative humidity
above 80 per cent are highly favourable; Excess of nitrogen aggravates
the disease severity.
3. Sheath rot
Causal organism : Sarocladium oryzae
Stage of infection: Boot leaf stage
Symptoms:Upper most leaf sheath enclosing the ear head exhibits dark
brown or black, circular to irregular patches. The panicle does not
emerge fully from the flag leaf. The glumes are discoloured. White
powdery growth of mycelium is seen inside the leaf sheath and also on
the panicle. Grains get discoloured. Young panicles may not emerge
from infected sheaths.
Favourable Conditions : Closer planting ;High doses of nitrogen; High
humidity and temperature around 25-30˚C; Injuries made by leaf folder,
brown plant hopper and mites increase infection
4. Sheath blight
Causal organism : Rhizoctonia solani
Stage of infection: Tillering stage
Symptoms: Lesions are formed on the leaf sheath near water level. The
lesions become oval or ellipsoid and greyish green. As the disease
progresses lesions enlarge and their centers turn greyish white with
brown margin. Under favourable conditions lesions are formed on upper
leaf sheath and on leaf blades resulting in leaf blight. Infection may
extend to culm leading to rot. Inside the culm and on the leaf sheath,
large number of small spherical, brown sclerotia are formed.
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Favourable Conditions : High relative humidity (96-97 per cent), high
temperature (30-32˚C);Closer planting;Heavy doses of nitrogenous
fertilizers
5. Stem rot
Causal organism : Sclerotium oryzae
Symptoms: The fungus affects leaf sheath during later stages of crop
growth near water level. Dark brown to black lesions are formed on the
outer leaf sheath. The affected tissues rot and abundant small, spherical,
black sclerotia are seen in the rotting tissue and visible to naked eye as
dots. The culm collapses and plants lodge. If the diseased tiller is
opened, profuse mycelial growth and large number of sclerotia can be
seen.
Favourable Conditions : Infestation of leaf hoppers and stem borer ;
High doses of nitrogenous fertilizers.
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7. Oodubathi disease
Causal organism : Ephelis oryzae
Symptoms: The panicle emerges as a slender, dirty grey, cylindrical,
spike since the spikelets are cemented by the fungal mycelium. No
grains are formed on affected earhead.
8. Grain discolouration
Causal organism : Helminthosporium, Curvularia , Alternaria Fusarium
Symptoms:The grains are discoloured red, yellow, orange, pink or
black, depending upon the organism involved and the degree of
infection. The infection may be external or internal leading to
discolouration of glumes, kernels or both. Dark brown or black spots
appear on grains. Under humid conditions, the fungal growth may be
prominently seen on grains .
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Favorable Conditions : Clipping of tip of the seedling at the time of
transplanting; Heavy rain, heavy dew, flooding, deep irrigation water
;Severe wind and temperature of 25-30 C; Application of excessive
nitrogen, especially late top dressing
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The treated seeds can be stored for 30 days without any loss in viability.
Wet seed treatment
Carbendazim or Tricyclozole at 2 g/lit of water for 1 kg of seed.
Soak the seeds in the solution for 2 h Drain the solution, sprout the seeds
and sow in the nursery bed. This wet seed treatment gives protection to
the seedlings up to 40 days from seedling disease such as blast and this
method is better than dry seed treatment or Treat the seeds with talc
based formulation of P. fluorescens (Pf1) @ 10g/kg of seed and soak in
1lit of water overnight. Decant the excess water and allow to sprout the
seeds for 24 h and then sow.
Seedling dip with Pseudomonas fluorescens
Stagnate water to a depth of 2.5cm over an area of 25m2 in the main field.
Sprinkle 2.5 kg of the talc based formulation of Pseudomonas fluorescens
( Pf1) and mix with stagnated water. The seedlings pulled out from the
nursery are to be soaked for 30 min. in the stagnated water and then
transplanted. Biocontrol agents are compatible with biofertilizers
Biofertilizers and biocontrol agents can be mixed together for seed
soaking
Fungicides and biocontrol agents are incompatible
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one hectare seedlings)
Soil application with TNAU Pf 1liquid formulation (500ml/ha)
Foliar spray with TNAU Pf 1liquid formulation @ 5ml/lit
2.Brown spot
Spray Metominostrobin @ 500ml/ha
3.Sheath rot
Cultural
Apply Gypsum @ 500 kg/ha at two equal splits once basally and another
at active tillering stage.
Botanicals
Neem oil 3%
Ipomoea leaf powder extract (25 kg/ha)
Prosopis leaf powder extract (25 kg/ha). First spray at boot leaf stage and
second 15 days later
Chemical
Spray any one of the following:
Carbendazim @ 500g/ha
Metominostrobin @ 500 ml/ha
Hexaconazole 75% WG @ 100 mg/ lit 1st spray at the time of disease
appearance and 2nd spray 15 days later
Biological control
Seed Treatment with TNAU Pf 1liquid formulation @ 10 ml/kg of
seeds
Seedling root dipping with TNAU Pf 1liquid formulation (500 ml for
one hectare seedlings)
Soil application with TNAU Pf 1liquid formulation (500ml/ha)
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Foliar spray with TNAU Pf 1liquid formulation @ 5ml/lit
4.Sheath blight
Cultural
Apply Neem cake at 150 kg/ha
Botanical
Foliar spray with Neem oil at 3% (15 lit /ha) starting from disease
appearance
Chemicial
Carbendazim 50 WP @ 500g/ha
Azoxystrobin @ 500ml/ha
Hexaconazole 75% WG @ 100mg/ lit 1st spray at the time of disease
appearance and 2nd spray 15 days later
Biological control
Seed Treatment with TNAU Pf 1liquid formulation @ 10 ml/kg of
seeds
Seedling root dipping with TNAU Pf 1liquid formulation (500 ml for
one hectare seedlings)
Soil application with TNAU Pf 1liquid formulation (500ml/ha)
Foliar spray with TNAU Pf 1liquid formulation @ 5ml/lit
5.False smut
Two sprayings of Propiconazole 25 EC @ 500ml/ha (or) Copper
hydroxide 77 WP @ 1.25 kg/ha at boot leaf and 50% flowering
2. Rust
Causal organism: Puccinia penniseti
Symptoms: Infection is seen in the form of brownish yellow pustules on
both the leaf surfaces. These represent the uredia of the fungus.
Teliosori are black and seen on leaf and leaf sheath. Brinjal is the
alternate host.
Favourable Conditions : Closer spacing ;Presence of abundant brinjal
plants and other species of Solanum viz., S.torvum, S. xanthocarpum and
S. pubescents.
3. Smut
Causal organism : Tolyposporium penicillariae
Symptoms: The disease becomes apparent at the time of grain set. A
few grains, sporadically distributed on the earhead are replaced by green
to black sori, which are much bigger than normal grains. The sorus
wall is tough, surrounding the powdery mass of smut spores which are in
balls.
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Favourable Conditions : High relative humidity; Successive cropping
with pearlmillet
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3. DISEASES OF FINGER MILLET
1. Blast
Causal organism: Pyricularia grisea
Symptoms: Infection occurs from sowing to crop maturity. On leaves,
the spots are spindle shaped with brown margin and necrotic grey center.
Conidiophores and conidia are formed in the center of the spots. Stem
infection causes blackening of the region on either side of node leading to
weakening, shrinking and breaking of plant. Ear head infection results in
black discolouration either at neck region or at any portion of rachis.
This causes either chaffiness or partial filling of grains.
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Main field
1.Blast:
Spray any one of the fungicides Edifenphos 500 ml or Carbendazim
500 g or Iprobenphos(IBP) @ 500 ml/ha. First spray immediately after
noticing the symptoms. Second and third sprays at flowering stage at
15 days interval to control neck and finger infection.
Foliar spray with Aureofungin sol 100 ppm at 50% earhead emergence
followed by a second spray with Mancozeb 1000g/ha or Pseudomonas
fluorescens @ 0.2% 10 days later
4. DISEASES OF MAIZE
1. Downy mildew / Crazy top
Causal organism: Peranosclerospora sorghi
Symptoms:Chlorotic streaks appear on the leaf and white fungus growth
is seen on both the surfaces of leaf. Affected plants become stunted and
exhibit bushy appearance due to shortening of internodes. Sometimes
leafy growths in the tassel and proliferation of axillary buds on the stalk
of the tassel are noticed.
Favourable Conditions : Low temperature (21-33˚C);High relative
humidity (90 per cent) and drizzling;Young plants are highly susceptible.
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2.Rust
Causal organism: Puccinia sorghi
Symptoms: On both the surfaces of the leaf, brown pustules are seen.
These represent the uredosori of the fungus. The alternate host is Oxalis
corniunlata. Cool temperature and high relative humidity favours the
disease
3. Leaf Blight
Causal organism: Exserohilum turcicum & Helminthosporium maydis
Turcicum Leaf Blight Symptoms:The fungus affects the crop at young
stage. Early symptoms are oval, water-soaked spots on leaves. Mature
symptoms are characteristic cigar shaped lesions that are 3 to 15cm long.
Lesions are elliptical and tan in color, developing distinct dark areas as
they mature that are associated with fungal sporulation. Lesions typically
first appear on lower leaves, spreading to upper leaves and the ear sheaths
as the crop matures. Under severe infection, lesions may coalesce,
blighting the entire leaf.
Maydis Leaf Blight Symptoms:: Small yellowish round or oval spots
appear on the leaves. These spots enlarge become elliptical and the
center becomes straw coloured with a reddish brown margin. Conidia
and conidiophores are formed in the center.
Favourable Conditions : Optimum temperature for the germination of
conidia is 8 to 27˚C provided with freewater on the leaf;Infection takes
place early in the wet season.
4.Charcoal rot
Causal organism: Macrophomina phaseolina
Symptoms: The pathogen affects the plant mostly after flowering and the
disease is named as Post Flowering Stalk Rot (PFSR). The stalk of the
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infected plants can be recognized by greyish streak. The pith becomes
shredded and greyish black minute sclerotia develop on the vascular
bundles. Shredding of the interior of the stalk often causes stalks to
break in the region of the crown. The crown region of the infected plant
becomes dark in colour. Shredding of root bark and disintegration of root
system are the common features. High temperature and low soil moisture
(drought) favours the disease
B.Disease Management
1.Seed treatment: Carbendazim @ 2 g/kg or Thiram @ 4g/kg or
Metalaxyl @ 3g/kg of seed
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4.Post Flowering Stalk rot
Follow crop rotation
Avoid water stress at flowering time reduced disease incidence
Avoid nutrient stress. Apply potash @ 80 kg/ha in endemic areas
Soil application of P. fluorescens (or) T. viride @ 2.5 kg / ha + 50 kg of
well decomposed FYM or sand at 30 days after sowing
5.DISEASES OF PULSES
I. DISEASES OF REDGRAM
1. Wilt
Causal organism : Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.udum
Symptoms: The infected plants show gradual wilting and drying.
Yellowing and premature drying of leaves and stems are noticed. The
basal portion of stem and root region becomes black. When the bark of
infected root is peeled, black streaks are seen and vascular tissues show
discolouration. Xylem vessel is occupied by the growth of the hyphae
which prevent the uptake of nutrients and water resulting in the death of
plant.
Favourable conditions : Soil temperature of 17-25˚C; Continuous
cultivation of redgram in the same field.
2. Powdery mildew
Causal organism: Leveillula taurica
Symptoms: On the lower surface of leaf, white powdery growth is
seen in patches. Corresponding areas on the upper surface become
yellow. This leads to premature shedding of leaves. Dry humid weather
following rainfall favours the disease.
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3. Leaf spot
Causal organism: Cercospora indica
Symptoms: Leaves show light brown small spots. Shot holes are formed
in due course. Lesions develop on petioles and stem.
4. Sterility mosaic
Causal organism : Pigeonpea sterility mosaic virus
Symptoms:The affected plants are stunted and the internodes are
shortened. Axillary buds are stimulated to grow and the branches are
crowded at the top. The plant gives a bushy appearance. Leaves become
small and crinkled exhibiting mottling symptom.The Eriophid mite
Aceria cajani transmits the disease.
Disease Management:
1.Seed treatment
Talc formulation of Trichoderma viride @ 4g or P. fluorescens @ 10 g/kg
seed (or) Carbendazim 2 g/kg or Thiram @ 4 g/kg.
2.Wilt
P. fluorescens (or) T. viride – 2.5 kg / ha + 50 kg of well decomposed
FYM or sand at 30 days after sowing
3.Root rot : Spot drenching with Carbendazim @ 1 gm/ lit
4.Sterility Mosaic : Rogue out the infected plants in the early stages of
growth.
Spray Fenazaquin @ 1 ml/lit on 45 and 60 DAS as prophylactic spray.
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II. DISEASES OF BENGALGRAM
1. Blight
Causal organism : Ascochyta rabiei
Symptoms: Infected leaflets exhibit round or elongated lesions bearing
depressed brown spots surrounded by a brown margin. Spots also appear
on a stems and pods. The spots on the stem and pod have pycnidia
arranged in concentric circles as black dots. The fungus is carried
through seeds.
Favourable conditions : High rainfall during flowering;Temperature of
20-25˚C;Relative humidity of 60%.
2. Rust
Causal organism : Uromyces ciceris-arietini
Symptoms: Small oval, brown powdery lesions appear on the lower
surface of the leaf. Later the lesions can be seen on both the surfaces.
Uredosori cover the entire leaf area and late in the season dark teliosori
appear on the leaves. The fungus survives as uredospores in the legume
weed Trigonella polycerata
3. Wilt
Causal organism : Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. Ciceris
Symptoms: Infection may occur at seedling or flowering stage. Affected
plant exhibits drooping of leaves in the upper part and quickly the entire
plant exhibits the symptom. Dark brown or black discolouration is
noticed below and above the collar region. Vascular browning is
conspicuously seen as black streaks on the stem and root below the bark.
High soil temperature (above 25˚C) and high soil moisture favours the
disease.
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Disease Management
1.Seed treatment: Talc formulation of T. viride @ 4g or P. fluorescens
@ 10 g/kg seed (or) Carbendazim @ 2 g/kg or Thiram @ 4 g/kg of seed
2. Blight
Exposure of seed at 40-50˚C reduced the survival of A. rabiei by about
40-70 per cent. Spray with Carbendazim at 500 g/ha or Chlorothalonil
1kg/ha. Follow crop rotation with cereals.
Rust
Destory weed host.
Spray Carbendazim 500 g/ha or Propiconazole 1L/ha
4.Wilt:
Soil application with P. fluorescens @ 2.5 kg/ha + 50 kg of well
decomposed FYM or sand.
2. Powdery mildew
Causal organism : Erysiphe polygoni
Symptoms: On the upper surface of leaf, white powdery growth of the
fungus is seen. More often, the entire surface is covered. The colour of
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the growth later turns grey and the leaves become brown. The disease
becomes severe during flowering and maturity stages. The white growth
consists of the external mycelium, conidiophores and conidia.
Favourable Conditions :Warm humid weather. The disease is severe
generally during late kharif and rabi seasons.
3. Leaf spot
Causal organism : Cercospora canescens
Symptoms:Small circular to irregular reddish spots are observed on the
surface of leaves. The center later turns grey and defoliation occurs in
severe cases. Large number of conidiophores and conidia are formed in
the center. Lesions can also be seen on petioles and stem.
Favourable Conditions : Humid weather and dense plant population
4. Rust
Causal organism : Uromyces phaseoli typical
Symptoms: On the lower surface of leaf reddish brown pustules are
seen in abundance, representing the uredosori of the fungus. Affected
leaves turn yellow. The uredospores are brown, echinulate and single
celled. Teliospores are elliptical and papillate. The fungus is an
autoecious, macrocyclic rust.
Favourable Conditions :Cloudy humid weather, temperature of 21-26˚
C .Nights with heavy dews.
5. Yellow mosaic
Causal organism : Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV)
Symptoms: The initial infection is observed as small irregular, yellow
patches on leaves. These patches enlarge in size and cover the entire
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lamina. The whole leaf later completely turns yellow. Pods become
yellow, small and distorted.
Favourable condition: Transmitted by whitefly, Bemisia tabaci under
favourable conditions. Disease spreads by feeding of plants by
viruliferous whiteflies. Summer sown crops are highly susceptible. Weed
hosts viz., Croton sparsiflorus, Acalypha indica, Eclipta alba and other
legume hosts serve as reservoir for inoculum.
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2.Powdery Mildew
▪ Spray NSKE 5% or Neem oil 3% twice at 10 days interval from initial
disease appearance.
▪ Spray Eucalyptus leaf extract 10% at initiation of the disease and 10
days later.
Spray Carbendazim 500 g or wettable sulphur 1500g/ha or
Propiconazole 500 ml/ha at initiation of the disease and 10 days later
3.Rust
Spray Mancozeb 1000g or wettable sulphur 1500g /ha at initiation of
the disease and 10 days later.
4.Leaf spot
Spray Carbendazim 500 g/ha or Mancozeb 1000g /ha at initiation of the
disease and 10 days later.
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Root rot
Seed treatment with Trichoderma viride 4 g/kg or Pseudomonas
fluorescens
10 g/kg
Basal application of zinc sulphate 25 kg/ha
Basal application of neem cake @ 150 kg/ha
Soil application P. fluorescens or T. viride – 2.5 kg / ha + 50 kg of well
decomposed FYM or sand at 30 days after sowing.
Spot drenching of Carbendazim @ 1 gm/ lit
6. DISEASES OF COTTON
1. Fusarium wilt
Causal organism : Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. vasinfectum
Symptoms: In the affected plants, leaves loose their turgidity, turn
yellow and fall off. Symptoms start from the base and proceed upward. .
The plant starts wilting and finally dries . The tap root is stunted and
lateral roots are limited. On the wood region of roots and stem black
streaks are seen. The vascular bundles of affected plants are traversed
by the growth of hyphal threads. The mycelium is septate and hyaline.
The fungus produces micro and macroconidia and chlamydospores.
Favourable Conditions :
Soil temperature of 20-30˚C
Hot and dry periods followed by rains
Heavy black soils with an alkaline reaction
Increased doses of nitrogen and phosphatic fertilizers
Wounds caused by nematode (Meloidogyne incognita and grubs of Ash
weevil (Myllocerus pustulatus).
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Disease : Verticillium wilt
Causal organism : Verticillium dahliae
Symptoms: The affected plants are severely stunted. Leaves exhibit
bronzing of veins followed by interveinal chlorosis and yellowing of
leaves. Leaves dry giving a scorched appearance. The characteristic
feature is the drying of leaf margin and interveinal areas. Infected stem
and roots show pinkish discolouration of the wood.
Favourable Conditions :
Low temperature of 15-20˚C,
Low lying and ill-drained soils,
Heavy soils with alkaline reaction
Heavy doses of nitrogenous fertilizers.
4. Leaf blight
Causal organism : Alternaria macrospora
Symptoms: The leaves show brown, round to irregular necrotic spots.
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The spots show concentric rings. The spots merge to form bigger patches
and the infected leaf withers.
Favourable Conditions: High humidity; Intermittent rains; Moderate
temperature of 25-28˚ C.
5. Myrothecium leaf spot
Causal organism : Myrothecium roridum
Symptoms: The spots are circular with grey centers and dark brown
margin. The center of the spot dries and withers leaving a shot hole.
6. Areolate mildew
Causal organism : Ramularia areola
Symptoms: The spots are observed on lower surface of leaves. Lesions
are irregular to angular, pale white bound by veinlets. They show frosty
white growth consisting of conidiophores and conidia. Leaves became
chlorotic and yellow.
Favourable Conditions
Wet humid conditions during winter cotton season; Intermittent rains
during Nor th-East monsoon season;Low temperature (20-30˚C) during
October-January; Close planting, excessive application of nitrogenous
fertilizers;Very early sowing or very late sowing of cotton
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spots are restricted by veins.
Black vein
The infection spreads to the vein and the affected vein becomes black
With bacterial ooze forming an encrustation on veins. This is vein blight
stage (black vein).
Black arm
On the surface of stems and branches, elongate black lesions are
observed. This causes breaking of the branches which hang on the
affected plant. This is black arm stage.
Boll rot.
On the surface of bolls, round to irregular black water soaked, sunken
lesions develop. This causes premature opening and shedding of bolls.
The lint turns yellow because of bacterial ooze. The bacterium is a
Gram negative rod with a single polar flagellum.
Favorable Conditions : Optimum soil temperature of 28˚C; High
atmospheric temperature of 30-40˚C;Relative humidity of 85 per cent,
early sowing, ;Delayed thinning;Poor tillage, late irrigation;Potassium
deficiency in soil ;Rain followed by bright sunshine during the months of
October and November are highly favorable.
Disease Management:
Soil drenching with Trifloxystrobin+Tebuconazole – 0.75g/litre .
2. Root rot
Cultural Method
Apply Neem cake @ 150 kg/ha to the soil and treat the seeds with talc
based T. viride @ 4 g/kg to reduce the root rot incidence.
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Biological control
Seed treatment with T. viride @ 10 g/kg followed by basal application of
zinc sulphate @ 50 kg/ha
Seed treatment with Bacillus (BSC 5) @ 10g/kg followed by soil
application @ 2.5 kg/ ha in 250kg of compost at the time of sowing.
Seed treatment with Pseudomonas (PF1) @ 10g/kg and soil application
@ 2.5 kg/ha in 250 kg of compost at the time of sowing.
Chemical
Spot drench Carbendazim @ 1 g/lit at the base of affected plants as well
as surrounding healthy plants.
2.Wilts
Treat the acid delinted seeds with Carboxin or Carbendazim at 2 g/kg.
Remove and burn the infected plant debris in the soil after deep summer
ploughing during June-July. Apply increased doses of potash with a
balanced dose of nitrogenous and phosphatic fertilizers. Apply heavy
doses of farm yard manure or other organic manures @100t/ha. Follow
mixed cropping with non-host plants. Grow disease resistant varieties of
G. hirsutum and G. barbadense like Varalakshmi, Vijay Pratap, Jayadhar
and Verum. Spot drench with Carbendazim 1g/litre.
Verticilium wilt: Follow crop rotation by growing paddy or lucerne or
chrysanthemum for 2-3 years. Spot drench with 0.05g/l benomyl or
carbendazim 500mg/l. Grow disease resistant varieties like Sujatha,
Suvin and CBS 156 and tolerant variety like MCU 5 WT.
Alternaria leaf spot
Spray any one of the following:
Copper Oxychloride 1250g or Mancozeb 1000g or Chlorothalonil
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500g/ha or Difenaconazole- 0.05%. or Krexoxym methyl – 0.1%
Tebuconazole – 1ml/
litre Trifloxystrobin+Tebuconazole – 0.6g/litre 60, 90 and 120 days after
sowing.
Bacillus subtilis (BSC 5) – 0.04% on 60, 90 and 120 days after sowing.
Grey Mildew
Spray Carbendazim 250 g/ha or Mancozeb 1000g or Chlorothalonil
500g/ha or Difenaconazole- 0.05% or Krexoxym methyl – 0.1% or
Tebuconazole – 1ml/litre 60, 90 and 120 days after sowing
Bacterial leaf blight
Avoid stacking of infected plants Spray Streptomycin sulphate +
Tetracycline mixture 100g + Copper oxychloride 1250g/ha.
Repeat spraying at 10 days interval twice or thrice if drizzling continues
Boll rot Spray any one of the following:
Carbendazim 500g or Mancozeb 2000g or Copper oxychloride 2500g/ha
along with an insecticide recommended for bollworm from 45th day at
fortnightly interval.
7. DISEASES OF SUGARCANE
1. Red rot
Causal organism : Colletotrichum falcatum
Symptoms: Symptoms are observed on the leaves and canes. On the
midrib, circular to oval spots with red margin and straw coloured center
are observed. In the central region, acervuli could be seen black dots.
The infected leaves break at the lesions. In the affected canes, the
internal tissues become red with cross white patches. The stalks become
hollow.
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Favourable Conditions: Monoculturing of sugarcane;Successive ratoon
cropping; Water logged conditions and injuries caused by insects;
Monoculturing of sugarcane; Successive ratoon cropping.; Water logged
conditions and injuries caused by insects.
3. Whip smut
Causal organism : Ustilago scitaminea
Symptoms: The affected plants are stunted and the central shoot is
converted into a long curved whip like sorus. The sours is covered by a
silvery, membrane which soon ruptures exposing a dark mass
ofteliospores.
5. Disease : Mosaic
Causal organism : Sugarcane mosaic potyvirus
Symptoms: The disease appears prominently on young leaves.
Linear
chlorotic stripes alternating with dark green areas are seen on the leaves.
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At \ later stages yellow stripes appear on leaf sheath and stalk. The
virus is a rod. The virus gets transmitted by setts and the aphid,
Raphalosiphum maidis.
Management:
Red rot:
Selection of setts from healthy nursery programme growing of
Recommended resistant and moderately resistant varieties viz., Co86249,
CoSi95071, CoG 93076, CoC 22, CoSi 6 and CoG 5 Adopt sett treatment
With Carbendazim before planting (Carbendazim 50 WP, @ 0.05% or
Carbendazim 25 DS @ 0.1% along with 1.0% Urea for 5 minutes) the
Irrigation interval in a red rot affected field must be lengthened. Once in
15 days during tillering, growth phases and once in 25 days during
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Maturity phase which restricts the spread. Removal of the affected
Clumps at an early stage and soil drenching with 0.1 % Carbandazim 50
WP or 0.25 % lime. The trash of red rot affected field after harvest may
be uniformly spread And Burnt The red rot affected field must be rotated
with rice for one season and Other crops for two seasons.
Smut:
Growing of resistant and moderately resistant varieties viz., Co 86249,
CoG
93076, CoC 22, CoSi6 and CoG 5
Sett treatment with fungicides viz., Triadimefon @ 0.1% or
Carbendazim @ 0.1% for 10 minutes.
Treating the seed setts with Aerated Steam Therapy (AST) at 50 ºC for
1 hour or in hot water at 50 ºC for 30 minutes or at 52 ºC for 18
minutes Removal of smut whips with gunny bags/polythene bag and
burnt Discourage ratooning of the diseased crops having more than 10
per cent infection
Phanerogamic parasite
Regular weeding and intercultural operation during early stages of
parasite growth. Spray Fernoxone (sodium salt of 2, 4-D) at 450g /500
litre of water.
General management
Select healthy setts for planting. In the seed crop, select plants which do
not show symptoms of red rot, smut, grassy shoot and ratoon stunting.
Setts showing red colour at the cut end and hollows should be rejected
and burnt.
Set fire to residues of previous crop to eliminate debris of fungal
pathogens.
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In fields which had shown high level of red rot disease, follow crop
rotation with rice. The setts should be soaked in 0.1% Carbendazim or
0.05% Triademefon for 15 minutes. Treat setts with aerated steam at
50°C for one hour to control primary infection of grassy shoot
disease.Clumps infected by grassy shoot, smut and ratoon stunting
diseases should be
immediately uprooted and destroyed.Use resistant varieties for the
following
diseases: Red rot CO 62198, CO 7704 (Resistant),
8. DISEASES OF OILSEEDS
I . DISEASES OF GROUNDNUT
1. Early leaf spot: Cercopora arachidicola
Late leaf spot: Phaeoisariopsis personata
Symptoms:
a.Early leaf spot: The sports are circular to irregular and reddish brown
to dark brown in colour. Spots appear on the upper surface, encircled by a
bright yellow halo. On the lower surface the lesions are light brown in
colour.
b. Late leaf spot: Leaves show dark, small, circular spots scattered on
the surface and appear in large numbers. The lower surface of the lesion
turns to carbonaceous black. Petioles and stem also exhibit black
elongated lesions. Spotted leaves shed prematurely
The mycelium is inter and intracellular. Conidiophores are short,
olivaceous brown, 1-2 septate and geniculate, arising in clusters.
Favourable Conditions : Prolonged high relative humidity for 3 days
Low temperature (20 C) with dew on leaf surface; Heavy doses of
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nitrogen andphosporus fertilizers ; Deficiency of magesium in soil.
2. Rust :
Causal organism : Puccinia arachidis
Symptoms: The leaflets exhibit large number of small powdery pustules
on the lower surface. Correspondingly the upper surface shows yellow
discolouration which later turns brown. Pustules coalesce and severe
infection causes drying and shedding of leaves. Pustules are also seen on
petiole and stem. The pustules represent the uredosori.
Favourable Conditions
High relative humidity (above 85 per cent);Heavy rainfall.Low
temperature (20-25˚C).
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4. Root rot
Causal organism : Macrophomina phaseolina
Symptoms: The affected plants exhibit reddish brown discolouration on
the stem near soil level. Leaves and branches droop and the whole plant
wilts. White mycelial growth is observed on the lesions. The bark of the
root becomes shredded and large number of sclerotia are formed in the
shredded tissues and also on the wood.
Favourable Conditions : Prolonged rainy season at seedling stage and
Low lying areas.
Disease management
1. Seed treatment: Treat the seeds with any one of the following
Thiram @ 4g/kg of seed or Mancozeb @ 4g/kg of seed or Carboxin @
2g/kg of seed or Carbendazim @ 2g/kg of seed or Talc formulation of T.
viride @ 4g/kg of seed or P. fluorescens @10g/kg of seed.
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g/ha . If necessary give the second round 15 days later.
Combined infection of rust and Leaf spot
Spray any one of the following: Spray 10% Calotropis leaf extract or
Spray Carbendazim 250 g + Mancozeb 1000g/ha or Chlorothalonil
1000g/ha. If necessary give the second round 15 days later.
4.Collar rot
Crop rotation.
Destruction of plant debris.
Remove and destroy previous season's infested crop debris in the field
Seed treatment with Trichoderma viride / T.harzianum @ 4 g/kg of seeds
and soil application of Trichoderma viride / T.harzianum at 2.5kg/ha,
preferably with organic amendments such as castor cake or neem cake or
mustard cake @ 500 kg/ ha.
5.Root rot:
Soil application of P. fluorescens @ 2.5g /ha mixed with 50 kg of well
decomposed FYM / sand at 30 DAS.
Spot drench with Carbendazim 1 g / l
2. Rust
Causal organism : Puccinia helianthi
Symptoms: On the lower surface of leaf, large number of reddish brown
pustules are seen either scattered or in groups on leaves at the bottom of
the plant. These pustules are powdery in nature and represent the
uredosori. Uredospores are echinulate and round to elliptical with a stalk
and the fungus is an autoecious rust.
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Favorable Conditions : Day temperature of 25.5° to 30.5°C with
Relative humidity of 86 to 92 per cent enhances intensity of rust attack.
3. Head rot
Causal organism : Rhizopus sp.
Symptoms: Affected heads show water soaked lesions on the lower
surface, which turn brown. The head turns soft, pulpy and tissues
putrefy. The seeds are converted into black mass. The head is not filled
properly and it withers finally.
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1.Seed treatment: Treat the seeds with any one of the following:
T. viride @ 4g/kg of seed,Thiram @ 4g/kg of seed,Carbendazim @ 2g/kg
of seed
3.Charcoal rot:
Soil application of P. fluorescens or T. viride – 2.5 Kg / ha + 50 Kg of
well decomposed FYM or sand at 30 days after sowing. Spot drenching
with Carbendazim @ 1 gm/ litre.
4.Head rot :
Spray Mancozeb 1000g/ha in case of intermittent rainfall at the head
stage, directing the spray to cover the capitulum.Repeat fungicidal
application after 10 days if humid weather continues
2. Leaf blight
Causal organism : Alternaria sesame
Symptoms:Spots are round to irregular, necrotic with concentric rings in
The center. Several spots coalesce leading to blight.
3. Powdery mildew
Causal organism : Erysiphe cichoracearum
Symptoms: Leaves show white powdery growth on the upper surface.
Often the entire lamina is covered by fungal growth. Severe infection
leads to malformation of leaves. The white growth consists of hyaline,
septate mycelium, conidiophores and chains of conidia.
Favourable Conditions : Dry humid weather; Low relative humidity.
4. Phyllody
Causal organism : Candidatus Phytoplasma
Symptoms: The floral parts are altered into green leafy, phylloid s
tructures. Plant exhibits clusters of leaves at the axil and also at the
terminal portion which gives a bushy appearance to the plant. The
phytoplasma is transmitted by the jassid vector, Orosius albicinctus.
DISEASE MANAGEMENT
1.Seed treatment: Treat the seeds with any one of the following
P. fluorescens @ 10g/kg of seed, T. viride @ 4g/kg of seed, Thiram @
4g/kg of seed, Carbendazim @ 2g/kg of seed
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2.Powdery mildew: Apply any one of the following.Sulphur dust 25
kg/ha or Wettable sulphur 25 kg/ha
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