Management of Diseases in Legumes through Organic Approaches: A Review

Abstract

Legumes are group of leguminous crops and are mainly known as the nitrogen fixers and these are one of the important components for sustainable agriculture in many parts of the world. These crops are grown for their tremendous benefits to the human beings especially legumes are nutrient rich grains. Pulses/legumes are important source of protein for the poor as well as the vegetarian population of the world and these are consumed on a regular basis because of their highly nutritional values. In countries like India, amino acids of pulses protein complement that of cereals as they are generally eaten together for a complete balanced diet. Pulses are important not only in India but also in many other poor countries where these crops are seen as an easy source of nutrition. Also, 2016 was declared as international year of Pulses by United Nations Organization. Chickpea, lentil, pea, pigeonpea, mungbean, urdbean, lentil, pea and rajma are important grain legumes. Besides there are many arid legumes crops like mothbean, cowpea, horsegram etc. grown in arid areas of the world. Diseases of pulses are one of the most important biotic constraints to their production. Their management strategies need to be percolated to the growers so as the losses caused by the diseases is contained and the growers are benefitted economically. Pulses encounter a wide range of diseases caused by a variety of pathogens that are mostly fungal and viral. However, there are many diseases caused by bacteria and nematodes too. Organic methods are cost effective, easy to use, maintain quality of the crops and moreover helps in boosting up the fertility of soils.