Bengal gram, also known as chana or chickpea, is an important pulse crop in India. The crop is vulnerable to wilt disease caused by a soil-borne fungus called Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri. Wilt disease reduces crop productivity, quality, and yield. Therefore, control measures of wilt of Bengal gram crop are necessary to minimize the damage caused by the disease. In this article, we will discuss various control measures of wilt of Bengal gram crop.
1. Use of resistant varieties: The use of wilt-resistant varieties is one of the most effective measures for controlling wilt disease. Resistant varieties have genes that provide resistance against wilt disease. Bengal gram varieties like JG-11, JAKI-9218, RSG-888, and ICCV-96029 are resistant to wilt disease.
2. Crop rotation: Crop rotation is an effective method of controlling soil-borne diseases. Crop rotation involves growing different crops in the same field in a sequence. This helps to break the life cycle of the fungus that causes the wilt disease. Legumes like soybean, green gram, and cowpea are good crop options to rotate with Bengal gram.
3. Soil solarization: Soil solarization is a technique that involves covering the soil with a clear plastic sheet and exposing it to the sun. This method helps to heat up the soil and kill soil-borne pathogens like the Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri fungus.
4. Seed treatment: Seed treatment is an important measure to control wilt disease. Seeds are treated with fungicides like carbendazim, thiram, and captan to protect them from the fungus. Seed treatment not only protects seeds from the disease but also helps in better germination and plant growth.
5. Biological control: Biological control involves the use of beneficial organisms to control plant diseases. Several bacteria and fungi have been found to suppress the growth of the Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri fungus. The bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens and the fungus Trichoderma have shown promising results in controlling wilt disease.
6. Chemical control: Chemical control involves the use of pesticides to control wilt disease. The use of fungicides like carbendazim, thiophanate methyl, and metalaxyl are effective in controlling wilt disease. However, the use of pesticides should be done with caution as it can have adverse effects on the environment and non-target organisms.
In conclusion, wilt disease is a major constraint to Bengal gram crop production. Effective control measures like the use of resistant varieties, crop rotation, soil solarization, seed treatment, biological control, and chemical control can help to manage wilt disease. A combination of these measures should be adopted to minimize the effect of wilt disease on Bengal gram crop productivity, quality, and yield.