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In this article we will discuss about:- 1. Introduction to Groundnut 2. Disease Constraints in Groundnut Cultivation 3. Management.
Introduction to Groundnut:
Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a member of sub-family, Papilionaceae of the family Leguminosae. It is believed to be the native of Brazil to Peru, Argentina and Ghana. It was introduced into India during the first half of the sixteenth century from one of the Pacific islands of China. Groundnut oil is an edible oil. It finds extensive use as a cooking medium both as refined oil and Vanaspati Ghee.
The oil content of the seed varies from 44 to 50 per cent, depending on the varieties and agronomic conditions. It is also used in soap making, and manufacturing cosmetics and lubricants, olein stearin and their salts. Kernels are also eaten raw, roasted or sweetened.
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They are rich in protein and vitamins A, B and some members of B2 group. Their calorific value is 349 per 100 g. The Hand Picked Selection (HPS) type of groundnut kernels are exported to foreign countries.
India is a world leader in groundnut farming, with 4.45 million hectares of cultivated area with the production of 3.20 million tonnes during 2009. Peanut is grown mostly in five states namely, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharastra, and together they account for about 90 per cent of the crop’s total area.
Disease Constraints in Groundnut Cultivation:
Groundnut prone to attack by various diseases. Among the foliar fungal diseases, leaf spot (early and late) and rusts are economically important. Seed and soil borne diseases like collar rot, stem rot, dry root rot and pod rot have also been identified as important. Among the viral diseases, bud necrosis (BND), Peanut mottle (PMV), Peanut stripe (PStV) and Peanut clump are important.
With regard to the insect pests, a wide range of pests like leaf miner, white grub, jassids, thrips, aphids red hairy caterpillar and termite are known to cause serious damage to groundnut crop.
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The yield of groundnut declining day by day due to various factors, such as abiotic factors and biotic factors (Pests and diseases). Among them, the crop being attacked by diseases (Fungal, virus and nematode diseases) are economically important ones responsible for considerable lower yields.
Table 8.1. The Important fungi-causing seed rots and seedling diseases, and their symptoms.
Management of Groundnut:
i. Follow a crop rotation, i.e., cereal-cereal-groundnut.
ii. Sow good quality and disease-free seed.
iii. Avoid damage to the seed testa and deep placement of seed at sowing.
iv. Treat the seed with thiram 3 g/kg seeds or with carbendazim at the rate 2 g/kg seeds.
v. Seed treatment with Mancozeb or captan at the rate 2.0 g/kg seeds or Trichoderma harzianum 4 g/kg seeds or talcum powder based formulation of Pseudomonas fluorescens inhibit the growth of Aspergillus niger causing collar rot.
vi. Seed treatment with Trichoderma viridae at the rate 4 g/kg seeds or Trichoderma harzianum at the rate 5 g/kg seeds and soil application of neem cake 160 kg/ha.
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vii. Soil application of micronutrient mixture B, Cu, Mn and Zn inhibit the growth of Rhizactonia.
viii. Application of soil amendments like pressmud cake, neem cake, FYM, paddy straw, sunhemp and subabul reduced the root rot incidence.
ix. Use groundnut lines such as C421 and C1780 which are field resistant to seed rot and collar rot.
