Diseases prevalent in Kharif crops grown in Barmer district of Rajasthan, India

Abstract

In the Kharif season, pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is the predominant crop of the Barmer district followed by cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) and moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia). Sesame (Sesamum indicum) and green gram (Vigna radiata) are other important Kharif oilseed and pulse crops, respectively. A survey was conducted to determine the status of major diseases of Kharif crops grown in the Barmer district of the Marwar region of Rajasthan, India. Five blocks and three villages in each block were surveyed through a random field survey method during the collection of diseased samples every Sunday for the practical classes of agricultural students of the College of Agriculture, Baytu; in August and September 2023. Per cent disease incidence was recorded on randomly selected plants in a particular field of selected location. The incidence of diseases was observed based on typical field symptoms and later the association was confirmed through microscopic examinations in the laboratory. In survey, yellow mosaic (virus), leaf crinkle/ curl (virus), bacterial leaf spot/ blight (Xanthomonas phaseoli) of green gram;green ear/ downy mildew (Sclerospora graminicola), rust (Puccinia substriata) and blast (Pyricularia grisea) of pearl millet; Phytophthora stem blight (Phytophthora parasitica var. sesame) and phyllody (Phytoplasma) of sesame; yellow mosaic (virus)and bacterial leaf spot/ blight (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. cyamopsidis) of cluster beanwere recorded with >50% incidence. However; charcoal rot (Macrophomina phaseolina), web blight (Rhizoctonia solani), Cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora canescens) and anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum) of green gram; Alternaria blight/ leaf spot (Alternaria sesame) of sesame,sorghum rust (Puccinia purpurea) and Alternaria blight/ leaf spot (Alternaria cyamopsidis) of cluster beanwere noticed with 10 to 50% incidence.