Management of pigeonpea sterility mosaic disease

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted to ascertain the efficacy of leaf extracts from botanical species viz., Vitex negundo (10%), Psoralea corylifola (10 %), Winter Green oil 30 EC (2%) against Sterility Mosaic Disease (SMD) in pigeonpea under field conditions. Resistant inducing chemicals viz., 200 ppm Salicylic acid and acaricides viz ; 0 .1% Fenazaquin and 0. 2% Dicofol were also evaluated against SMD. Comprehensive analysis of data demonstrated that the two sprays of 0.1% Fenazaquin first at 30 days after sowing and second at 15 days after first spray recorded the lowest (8.8 per cent) SMD incidence as compared to 46.1 per cent in untreated control which accounted for the disease reduction of 80.9 per cent. Among the plant products tested, winter green oil 30 EC (2 %) was effective by recording 19.0 per cent SMD incidence with 58.7 per cent disease reduction. Fenazaquin (0 .1%) spray reduced the mite (Aceria cajani) population by 81.9 per cent followed by winter green oil 30 EC (2 %) with the population reduction of 72.3 per cent. Fenazaquin (0 .1%) spray also influenced to record the highest yield of 815 kg per ha as against 492 kg per ha in untreated plot and therefore, 0.1% Fenazaquin could be the best alternative for the management of SMD in pigeonpea under field conditions.