Management of bacterial leaf blight (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. cymopsidis) of clusterbean in Rajasthan

Abstract

Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. cymopsidis is an important disease of clusterbean, under severe infestation it cause 58–68% losses in seed yield.Three-year field experiments were conducted in hot arid conditions at Bikaner, Rajasthan with the objective to find out suitable management strategies for BLB. The experiment was conducted on highly suscibtible cv. M-83 against BLB with five different treatment combinations of seed soaking with streptocycline and/or tetracycline and spraying against the blight and compared with an untreated control. Results of experiment showed that all the treatments brought significant decline in disease intensity and consequently enhancement of seed yield compared to control. The treatment having combination of seed soaking with streptocycline @500 ppm for one hour followed by two spray of streptocycline @250 ppm and copper oxychloride (0.2%) at 15 days interval had minimum (14.83%) BLB intensity, highest seed yield (11.18 q/ha) and net return (Rs 16,270/ha). The seed soaking in streptocycline @500 ppm for one hour followed by two spray of copper hydroxide (0.2%) at 15 days interval was the next best treatment with 17.33% disease intensity and 10.45 q/ha of seed yield. These treatments can provide an effective and economical management of bacterial leaf blight of clusterbean for cultivators.