Incidence of stem rot disease of groundnut in relation to weather parameters in major groundnut growing areas of Telangana

Abstract

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important oilseed crop and the economic production of groundnut is constrained by soil-borne diseases. Stem rot, caused by the necrotrophic fungus Sclerotium rolfsii, was the most common soil-borne disease in groundnut. A roving survey was conducted in major groundnut growing areas of Telangana during kharif 2019 and rabi 2019-20 to collect a preliminary data of the incidence level and pattern of prevalence of the stem rot disease. The district of Warangal has the highest incidence of stem rot. The lowest incidence of stem rot was found in Telangana's Wanaparthy and Nagarkurnool districts. Disease incidence was correlated with weather parameters, during Kharif-2019, temperature, relative humidity and rainfall showed positive correlation, whereas evaporation showed negative correlation, during Rabi-2019-20, temperature, relative humidity and evaporation showed positive correlation and rainfall showed negative correlation. This study provided an elementary idea about the per cent disease incidence as well as paved the path for developing ecosystem specific management strategy to reduce impact of soil borne diseases of groundnut in different districts of Telangana.