A Survey on Fungal Diseases of Onion (Allium cepa L.) Crop of Bidar District Karnataka

The investigation on fungal diseases of onion (Allium cepa L) were surveyed during the pre and post harvest for the period from February to June (one crop season) onion crops grown in Bidar District of Karnataka state. The study fields were selected at Bagdal, Hudgi and Rajeshwar villages. The investigations were under taken beginning with planting to till harvesting of onion crop. Studies show that a total of six fungal pathogens causing severe disease in onion like purple block (Alternaaria porri) 41.4%, black mold (Aspergillus niger) 53%, leaf spot (Botrytis spp) 5% Basal rot (Fusarium spp) 31.2% Anthracnose (colletotricum gloeosporoidis), 35.5% onion smudge (Colletotricum spp) 37.6% and bacterial rot disease were contributed to the total diseases at this region. The disease severity and diversity is similar in average of each experimental fields. Among these, leaf spot disease of onion is less frequent and is not noticed in all the study fields. This leads to loss up to the tune of 40 percent in total production of onion.