Anthracnose infestation in pea
PEA (PISUM sativum) is a widespread grain legume with high protein and great food value, which thrives best in cool weather and withstands low temperatures.
Anthracnose infestation is a serious infestation affecting pea cultivation. Strong winds promote the spread of the disease.
The source of infection is transferred to the soil through the affected seeds and plant residues.
Disease symptoms
The plants are infected through the vegetative period. The infection of seedlings and the plants during pod formation is most dangerous.
On leaves irregular brown spots form with the centres slightly paler than spot margins. Anthracnose appears very distinctly on the pods.
Round and slightly depressed brownish spots are formed on the pods and are surrounded with a raised and darker margin with a broad belt of brownish red colour.
Management practices
Cultural practices include proper cultivation practices such as use of disease free seeds, proper crop rotation, deep cultivation of the soil to fine tilth, good drainage, destruction of weeds and infected plant residues, and the use of organic manures and biofertilizers to encourage vigorous plant growth.
Chemical control
Treating the seeds with a suspension of thiram (TMTD) prior to sowing (4-6kg/tonne of seed) or pre-sowing soaking of seeds for 8 hrs at 18-20 degrees Celsius using systematic fungicides at 0.01 per cent concentration has been found effective in reducing the disease incidence.
Spraying with mancozeb 2gm/per litre of water or carbendazim 1gm/per litre of water is effective in controlling anthracnose.
Biological control includes treating the seeds with Trichoderma at 4gm/kg to avoid seed borne diseases.
T. ARUMUGAM & S. MINI
Horticultural Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu
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