Aerial diseases and their management in Cuminum cyminum: A review

Abstract

Cumin usually known as Jeera and scientifically known as Cuminumcyminum L. is annual and one of the most important spice crop that is moreprone to several diseases among which the aerial diseases cause severelosses in both yield and quality. Aerial diseases are those diseases whichcause de-formalities in aboveground system of the plant and may includestem, leaves, flower, seed, fruit etc. The threats of Aerial diseases areepidemics in crop production, high cost of chemical fungicides anddevelopment of fungicide resistance, climate change, new diseaseoutbreaks and increasing concerns regarding environmental as well assoil health are becoming increasingly obvious. These demand the use ofintegrated aerial disease management strategies for the crop. This articlesummarized the methods for management of aerial diseases in cuminseed production which included legal methods, resistant cultivars,sanitation, and cropping system, biological control, soil amendments andsoil fertility and weather parameters, plant nutrients, and chemical control.Decision support systems developed to predict disease allow choosinggood management methods such as the use of healthy seeds, culturalpractices and biological control agents for each aerial cumin disease. Thecomplexity in interactions between a pathogen and its host, influenced bybiotic and abiotic factors of the environment, build the control of thediseases frequently very hard. However, profound awareness of host-pathogen systems allows constructing integrated pest managementsystems enhances the production of good quantity as well as quality seed.