Control of Fungal Disease in Guar Crop
Guar is an important pulse crop that is widely cultivated in India, Pakistan, and several other countries in the world. It is primarily used for its galactomannan gum, which has various applications in the food, textile, and petroleum industries. However, guar plants are susceptible to several fungal diseases, which can cause significant yield losses. Therefore, it is crucial to adopt effective control measures to prevent and manage these diseases.
Some of the common fungal diseases of guar crop and their management strategies are discussed below:
1. Alternaria blight:
This disease is caused by the fungus Alternaria alternata and manifests as small, circular, dark brown lesions on leaves, stem, and pods. The infection can cause defoliation, yield losses, and seed rot. To control Alternaria blight, farmers can adopt the following measures:
– Crop rotation with non-host crops such as wheat, maize, and sorghum.
– Soil solarization to kill the fungal spores present in the soil.
– Use of resistant cultivars such as RGC1037 and JG11.
– Application of fungicides such as mancozeb, azoxystrobin, and tebuconazole.
2. Root rot:
This disease is caused by several soil-borne fungi such as Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum, and Phytophthora spp. It affects the roots and basal stem of the plants, causing wilting, stunting, and eventual death. To control root rot, farmers can adopt the following measures:
– Soil sterilization by fumigation or solarization before sowing.
– Use of resistant cultivars such as Pant Guar-2 and Pusa Sadabahar.
– Avoiding waterlogging and over-irrigation.
– Application of biocontrol agents such as Trichoderma spp. and Bacillus subtilis.
– Application of fungicides such as carbendazim and metalaxyl.
3. Leaf blight:
This disease is caused by the fungus Phyllosticta cyamopsidis and manifests as small, circular, grayish-white lesions on leaves and pods. The infection can cause defoliation and yield losses. To control leaf blight, farmers can adopt the following measures:
– Crop rotation with non-host crops.
– Removal of crop residues after harvest.
– Spraying with fungicides such as carbendazim and copper oxychloride.
4. Anthracnose:
This disease is caused by the fungus Colletotrichum dematium and manifests as circular, sunken lesions with dark margins on pods and stems. The infection can cause premature pod drop and yield losses. To control anthracnose, farmers can adopt the following measures:
– Crop rotation with non-host crops.
– Use of resistant cultivars such as Pant guar-14 and RGC-936.
– Application of fungicides such as carbendazim, thiophanate-methyl, and azoxystrobin.
In conclusion, fungal diseases can significantly affect the yield and quality of guar crop. Therefore, farmers should adopt integrated disease management strategies that include cultural, biological, and chemical control measures. They should also monitor the crop regularly for disease symptoms and take appropriate measures on time to prevent the spread of infections within the field. By implementing such measures, farmers can reduce yield losses and maximize their profits from the guar crop.