Question

Write two major diseases of pulses.

Hint:

Remember: Wilt (Fusarium) and Powdery Mildew are two major diseases affecting pulse crops. Wilt causes vascular blockage leading to plant death, while powdery mildew appears as white powdery growth on leaves and stems.

Answer 1

Step 1: Introduction to pulse crops.
Pulses are important food crops rich in protein. They include crops like chickpea (gram), pigeonpea (arhar), mungbean (green gram), urdbean (black gram), lentil (masur), and pea. These crops are susceptible to various diseases that cause significant yield losses.
Step 2: Two major diseases of pulses.

• Wilt (Fusarium wilt):
  • Causal organism: Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri (in chickpea), Fusarium udum (in pigeonpea)
  • Symptoms:
    • Yellowing and drooping of leaves
    • Wilting of entire plant
    • Browning of vascular tissues
    • Sudden death of plants in patches
  • Affected pulses: Chickpea, pigeonpea, lentil, pea
  • Management: Use resistant varieties, seed treatment with fungicides, crop rotation
• Powdery Mildew:
  • Causal organism: Erysiphe polygoni
  • Symptoms:
    • White or gray powdery growth on leaves, stems, and pods
    • Yellowing and drying of affected parts
    • Reduced photosynthesis and yield loss
  • Affected pulses: Pea, mungbean, urdbean
  • Management: Spray sulfur-based fungicides, use resistant varieties

Step 3: Other important diseases (for reference).
Other major diseases of pulses include:

• Rust (Pea, lentil)
• Anthracnose (Bean, cowpea)
• Leaf spot (All pulses)
• Yellow mosaic virus (Mungbean, urdbean)
• Root rot (Chickpea, pea)