Management of Important Diseases of Pigeonpea

An experiment to control wilt and sterility mosaic (SM) diseases of pigeonpea was undertaken by employing seed inoculation with bio-agent Trichoderma viride @ 1 kg 12 kg−1 seed, alongwith seed dressers captan @ 3 gm kg−1 seed followed by 3 sprays of 0.2% kelthane at an interval of 30, 60 and 90 d after sowing, Apron @ 6 gm kg−1 seed followed by one spray of 0.1% Ridomil after 30 d of sowing and untreated control during 1993–94, 1996–97 and 1997–98. The reduction in wilt incidence over control was 56.36% and 53.80% with highest yield as 1306 kg ha−1 followed by 1230 kg ha−1, in case of T viride and seed treatment with captan, respectively. The economics worked out for T. viride treatment indicated incremental cost benefit ratio 1:39.23. Kelthane was found effective in reducing SM incidence. Phytophthora blight was not observed in any of the year.