Influence of Sowing Dates and Varieties on Incidence of Powdery Mildew of Mungbean

Adjustment of sowing dates is an obviously good strategy to minimize the diseases and obtain better yields. Three mungbean varieties, viz. BPMR-145, Kopergaon and Latur local were sown at four different dates (July, 7th 14th, 21th and 28th) under natural epiphytotics during Kharif, 2005 to study the effect of sowing dates on powdery mildew incidence and seed yield. The results indicated that with the subsequent delay in sowing there was progressive increase in the mildew intensity. Average per cent disease intensity (PDI) was minimum (35.80%), moderate (41.98 to 44.79%) and maximum (50.25%) in the early (7th July), mid-late (14th and 21th July) and late sown (28th July) mungbean, respectively. Among varieties, BPMR-145 exhibited lower disease incidence (35.97%), whereas, it was significantly higher in Kopergaon (45.21%) and Latur local (48.46%). The grain yield and test weight of mungbean was found to differ significantly with respect to sowing dates and varieties. However, the seed yield and test weight were significantly higher in the crop sown on 7th July, 2005 and thereafter both were declined significantly in subsequent delayed sown crop.