Dr. Y.S.

R Horticultural University
College of Horticulture
Anantharajupeta

PL.PATH.515-(Term paper)

Topic : Diseases of Pulse crops

Course in-charge Presented by

Dr.Y.Sireesha S.Soniya
Asst.Professor AHM/24-22
Departmet of Plant pathology Department of Entomology
 Contents
 Diseases of Soybean
 Diseases of Redgram
 Diseases of Cowpea
 Diseases of Lentil
DISEASES OF SOYABEAN (Glycine max)
S.NO Disease Causal Pathogen Belongs to Spread
organism subdivision

1 Rust Phakospora Fungi Basidiomycotina Primary–

pachyrhizi teliospores
Secondary -
uredospores

2 Soyabean Soyabean Virus Poty virus Aphids (Aphis

mosaic mosaic virus glycines),seed
borne

3 Bacterial Xanthomonas Bacteria Gram negative bacteria

pustule axonopodis survives in
pv.glycines crop residues
and seeds
RUST :Phakospora pachyrhizi
 SYMPTOMS

Initially pustules appear on lower surface of leaf

Later they turn to reddish brown to tan colour
Tan lesions on leaf
Urediniospores of phakospora pachyrhizi
on leaf
 ETIOLOGY
• It belongs to Basidiomycotina
• It is a higher fungi.
• Mycelium is septate and binucleate.
Asexual spore – uredospore
Urediniospores of phakospora pachyrhizi
long finger like structures are urediniospores developing in uredinia
SEM images of Phakopsora pachyrhizi pre-penetration in the leaves of the soybean cv.
BRS 154. (a) Uredospores 1 h after inoculation, (b) Uredospores 4 h after inoculation, (c)
Uredospores germinated with (arrowhead) and without (arrow) appressorium 7 h after
inoculation, (d) Detail of appressorium at 12 h after inoculation (arrowhead).
Life-cycle of P. pachyrhizi on soybean
Dark field observation of a single pustule and
urediniospores of phakospora pachyrhizi
 Germination of urediniospores of P. pachyrhizi

fruiting bodies (uredinia) of Phakopsora pachyrhizi (microphotograph 400x).

a) Yellow mosaic discoloration observed at 7 dai (b) Tan lesions observed at 21
dai and © reddish-brown lesions observed at 14 dai. Photos were taken at the
United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service
Stoneville Research Quarantine Facility in Mississippi.
Red brown soybean leaf lesions Pale yellowish-brown urediniospores,
with uredinia median view.

Cross-section of leaf showing telium with

two-three layers of teliospores
Range of soyabean rust symptoms on
soyabean leaves
Advanced symptoms of soyabean rust on
unsprayed control plot Within a fungicidal trai
 EPIDEMIOLOGY
• Favourable temperature is 18-23°C and R.H is
80%.
• Primary infection: teliospores in crop debris.
• Secondary infection :wind borne uredospores.
Internal structure of a typical dicotyledon leaf showing the different cell layers and
infection by a rust fungus. GT, germ tube; AP, appressorium; PH, penetration hyphae; IH,
infection hyphae; H, haustorium. Schema was taken from Hahn (2000).
 MANAGEMENT
Cultural control-
• Early maturing cultivars escape rust infection.
• Field sanitation-Remove volunteer soyabean plants and legume weeds that can
serve as alternate hosts.
• Grow resistant varieties like PK 73-84,PK-310,IC 89495,IC 89498.

Physical control-
• Burning of crop residues after harvest to destroy fungal spores.
• Soil solarization during hot summer day.
• Deep ploughing to bury infected plant debris.

Biological control-
• Fungal antagonists like Trichoderma sps can help in managing rust in the soil or
residue.

Chemical control-
• Spray with Mancozeb @0.1% at weekly interval.
SOYABEAN MOSAIC :Soyabean mosaic virus
Distorted and Puckered leaves
Healthy seeds Mosaic infected seeds
Seed discolouration symptom
Normal leaf common mosaic leaf yellow mosaic leaf
Virus is transmitted by aphids
Aphis glycines
Soyabean mosaic virus particles
Replication and movement of soybean mosaic virus (SMV)
within the cell.
 ETIOLOGY
• Single stranded RNA viruses,filamentous
particles.
• Internal seed borne virus.
 MANAGEMENT
Cultural control-
• Use virus free seed from healthy crop.
• Rogue out infected plants and burn them.
• Remove weed hosts that can harbour both virus and aphids.
• Crop rotation with non-leguminous crops.

Physical control-
• Use of Yellow sticky traps to monitor and reduce Aphid populations.
• Reflective mulches (silver colored) around plants to repel Aphids.

Biological control-
• Encourage natural enemies of Aphids-Coccinellidae,Chrsopidae.
• Use of Biopesticides like Beauveria bassiana to manage Aphids.

Chemical control-
• Spray dimethoate@2 ml/ litre to control the vector.
BACTERIAL PUSTULE : Xanthomonas axonopodis pv.glycines
Small ,dark brown pustules surrounded by yellow halo
Spots range in size from small flecks to large necrotic areas
The center of the spots have a raised pustule on the
lower leaf surface
 ETIOLOGY
• Non-filamentous,Gram negative bacteria.
• Xanthomonas is aerobic,rodshaped.
• Single polar flagella, produce Water insoluble
yellow pigment.
• Colonies are yellow.
• Chemoorganotrophs.
• All species are plant pathogens.
 EPIDEMIOLOGY
• The bacterium survives in crop residues and
Seeds.
• The disease appears in a severe form when
warm temperatures and frequent showers
prevail during growing season.
 MANAGEMENT
Cultural control -
• Remove and burn the infected plant debris.
• Crop rotation with grain crop is recommended.
• Use disease-free seeds to avoid introducing bacteria in to the field.

Physical control-
• Proper plant spacing to reduce humidity and leaf contact.
• Use of sanitized equipment and tools to avoid mechanical
transmission.
Chemical control-
• Two sprays at 45 and 55 days After sowing with a mixture of
[email protected]%+Streptocycline @ 250 ppm effectively control the
 DISEASES OF RED GRAM
Cajanus cajan
S.NO DISEASE Causal Pathogen Belongs to Spread
organism
1 Wilt Fusarium Fungi Deuteromycotina Primary-
oxysporum Chlamydospores,Inf
f.sp.udum ected seeds
Secondary-
Water,Implements

2 Phytophthor Phytophthora Fungi Mastigomycotina Primary-oospores

a blight/ drechsleri.f.sp Secondary-
Stem blight .cajani Zoospores

3 Sterility Sterility Virus Emara Virus Eriophyid mite

mosaic mosaic virus Aceria cajani

4 Bacterial leaf Xanthomonas Bacteria Gram negative Seed borne

spot and stem campestris
canker pv.cajani
WILT : Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.udum

• Gradual wilting
Patches of dead plants in the field when the crop
is flowering or podding.
Purple band on the stem Browning of stem
Close view of
external wilt
symptom
Field infected with wilt disease
Microconidia, macroconidia and chlamydospores of F. oxysporum
 ETIOLOGY
• Subdivision :Deuteromycotina
• It belongs to higher fungi.
• Fungus produces hyaline, septate mycelium.
 EPIDEMIOLOGY
• Primary infection: Soil borne
Chlamydospores and infected seeds.
• Secondary infection : Through irrigation
water and implements.
• Soil temperature:17 to 25°C
• Disease is more severe in Vertisols than
in Alfisols.
 MANAGEMENT
Cultural control-
• Crop rotation with tobacco, sorghum or castor.
• Soil solarization in summer to reduce the inoculum of pathogen.
• Collect and destroy the diseased stubbles.
• Grow history plant resistant varieties like Asha(ICPL 87119), Maruti (ICP 8863),
Lakshmi (ICPL 85063), Durga,Muktha,Prabhat and Sharada.

Biological control-
• Treat the seeds with Trichoderma viridae at 4g/kg.

Physical control-
• Hot water treatment of seeds at 52℃ for 30 minutes to eliminate seed-borne
inoculum.

Chemical control-
• Seed treatment with [email protected]%
PHYTOPHTHORA BLIGHT/STEM
BLIGHT :Phytophthora drechsleri
f.sp.cajani
Close view of
plant infected
with
Phytophthora
blight
Large galls
on the
stems,
especially
at the
edges of
the lesions.
Seedling mortality in pigeon pea owing to
Phytophthora blight.
Water soaked
lesions on leaves
Brown to
black lesions
on stems and
petioles.
A broken stem at the point of infection.
An infected plant showing cankers/galls on
the stem.
Pigeon pea field mortality owing to
Phytophthora blight
Non papillate sporangia of Phytophthora cajani
on tomato juice medium
Amphigynous antheridia of Phytophthora cajani
 ETIOLOGY
• It belongs to subdivision- Mastigomycotina
• Fungus produces hyaline,coenocytic
mycelium.
 EPIDEMIOLOGY
• Primary infection : Oospores from infected
soil and plant debris.
• Secondary infection : Zoospores through Rain
splash and irrigation water.
• Favourable conditions :
• Cloudy weather and drizzling rain with
temperature 25°C.
• Soils with Poor drainage, heavy rain in the
months of July –september.
Morphology of Phytophthora cajani isolate ICPC 1: (a) growth in Petriplate; (b)
coenocytic mycelium; (c) hyphal swellings; (d) non-papillate sporangia; (e) zoospores;
(f) oospore.
 MANAGEMENT
Cultural control-
• Avoid sowing redgram in fields with low-lying patches that are prone to water
logging.
• Adjust the sowing time so that crop growth should not coincide with heavy rain
fall.
• Grow resistant varieties like BDN 1,ICPL 288,ICPL 150, ICPL 304,KPBR 80-
1-4.

Biological control-
• Seed treatment with 4g Trichoderma viridae formulation+6g metalaxyl (Apron
35SD) per kg of seed.

Physical control-
• Soil solarization during hot summer days.

Chemical control-
• Spray Metalaxyl at 0.2%.
STERILITY MOSAIC :Sterility mosaic virus

Mosaic
symptoms
Chlorotic Ring spots
Partial sterility
Complete sterile pigeon pea field
Plants showing chlorotic symptoms on leaves and
sterile twigs
Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) picture of Aceria cajani, mite
vector of pigeonpea mosaic virus
 EPIDEMIOLOGY
• The disease is transmitted by an Eriophyid
mite Aceria cajani.
• The Self-sown redgram plants, perennial types
of redgram (Cajanus scarabaeoides
var.scarabaeoides) and the rationed growth of
harvested plants serve as sources of infection.
• Several insecticides including dimethoate and
acaricides such as Dicofol 18.5 [email protected] ml/
litre.
 MANAGEMENT
Cultural control-
• Rogue out infected plants in early stages of disease development.
• Grow tolerant genotypes like ICPL 87119(Asha),ICPL 227, Jagruti and Bahar.

Biological control-
• Use of natural predators of mites such as predatory mites.
• Neem oil spray(2-3 ％ )helps in reducing mite population.

Physical control-
• Barrier cropping (sorghum or pearl millet around the field) can reduce mite
movement.

Chemical control-
• Spray Dicofol 3ml or Sulphur 3g in one litre of water to control mite vector in
early stages of disease development.
 BACTERIAL LEAF SPOT AND STEM
CANKER : Xanthomonas campestris pv.cajani
Stem showing
bacterial
canker
growth
 ETIOLOGY
• The bacterium is strict aerobe, gram
negative,non spore forming,rod shaped with
monotrichous polar flagellum of at one end.
• The bacterial cells are disseminated through
rain splash.
 EPIDEMIOLOGY
• Warm (25-30°C) and humid weather favour the
disease development.
• Disease incidence is generally higher in low-
lying water logged areas of the field than in
well drained areas.
• X. campestris pv.cajani is specific to pigeonpea
and is seed borne in nature.
• Crop canopy making airways amongst plants
helps in prevention of moisture and disease
buildup.
 MANAGEMENT
Cultural control-
• Remove the infected plant debris and destroy.
• Avoid dense cropping to facilitate air passage to prevent High
moisture built up.
Physical control-
• Solarization of nursery beds or soil during hot summer days.
Chemical control-
• Spray antibiotics like Streptocycline@100ppm, 2-3 times at 10
days interval.
DISEASE OF COWPEA
COWPEA MOSAIC :Cowpea yellow mosaic
virus (yellow strain)
Severe blistering and distortion of leaflets
Mottled or mosaic-like appearance on the leaves
Leaf curling and mosaic discoloration
Vein clearing
Irregular Mosaic symptoms
Cupping of leaf
Puckering of cowpea leaves along the
central vein
Cowpea showing
chlorotic local
Lesions
 EPIDEMIOLOGY
• Transmitted by various beetles with biting
mouthparts.
• The virus is transmitted by chrysomelid
beetles viz., Ootheca mutabilis, Cerotoma
variegata and C. ruficornis, Ceratoma
trifurcata ( beetle ).
 MANAGEMENT
Cultural control-
• Remove the infected plants as soon as symptoms appear.
• Grow resistant varieties.
• Rogue out and destroy the weed hosts.
• Crop rotation with non-host crops.
Biological control-
• Neem oil spray(2-3%) can help to repel beetle vectors.
• Use of natural enemies of beetle vectors-Predatory
beetles,spiders,parasitoids.
Physical control-
• Barrier crops (maize/sorghum) to reduce beetle movement.
Chemical control-
• Foliar spray of systemic insecticides to control beeetles.
LENTIL DISEASES (Lens culinaris L)
S.NO DISEASE Causal organism Belongs to

1 Fusarium wilt Fusarium Fungi

oxysporum
f.sps.lentis

2 Anthracnose Colletotrichum Fungi

truncatum

3 Ascochyta blight Ascochyta lentis Fungi

4 Botrytis gray mold Botrytis cinerea Fungi

5 Rust Uromyces viciae- Fungi

fabae
 FUSARIUM WILT (Fusarium oxysporum f.sps.lentis)

Sudden drooping of lentil plant at the flowering stage

Shrinkage and curling of lentil leaves without premature shedding
and plants finally yellow and die.
Lentil cultivars resistant and suspectible to Fusarium wilt (Courtesy
ICARDA)
 ETIOLOGY
• It belongs to Subdivison Deuteromycotina.
• It is higher fungi with septate mycelium.
• Conidiophore-bearing a conidia.
• Conidia are micro,macro conidia and also
Chlamydospores.
Macro and micro conidia
Chlamydospores
 EPIDEMIOLOGY
• Fungus is soil borne, which can survive in the soil
and plant debris in the absence of its host for a
period of 3-4 years.
• The disease is favoured by high soil temperature 20-
30°C and relatively dry(25% water holding
capacity), and increasing plant maturity.
• Yield losses depend on the stage at which the plant
wilts; it can be 100 per cent when wilt occurs at pre
pod stage, about 67 per cent when it occurs at the
pre harvest stage.
 Mode of spread
• Primary infection- dormant mycelium in
infected plant debris.
• Secondary infection-seed borne inoculum can
either be systemic mycelium.
 MANAGEMENT

Cultural control-
• The best method of controlling lentil wilt is to use resistant varieties, a number of
which are now available as Pant L-4, Pant L-6, Pant L-8.
• Following crop rotation with cereal crops which are not affected by wilt
pathogen.
• Soil amendment with organic matter enhances antagonism with other soil
microflora.

Physical control-
• Ploughing of the field during summer.

Biological control-
• Using antagonistic microflora like Bacillus subtilis,Trichoderma harzianum, T.
viride @ 4 g/kg seed.

Chemical control-
• Seed treatment with benomyl (0.3%) or thiram + benomyl (1:1, 0.3%) reduces
wilt incidence and increases grain yield.
ANTHRACNOSE (Colletotrichum truncatum)

Plot of lentil severely infected by Anthracnose,resulting in large areas of brown

and heavily lodged plants
Lentil seeds with brown discolouration caused by
Colletotrichum truncatum
Early symptoms of Anthracnose in a lentil crop.Premature leaf drop
and tan lesions on lower stems indicate that the disease will become a
severe problem.
Numerous black
microsclerotia of
Colletotrichum
truncatum at the base of
a lentil stem
Deep,necrotic lesions
with black borders
creating indents along a
lentil stem,characteristic
of anthracnose.
Coalesced stem
lesions and leaf
necrosis on a lentil
plant severely
infected by
anthracnose
Anthracnose lesion on a lentil leaflet with acervuli,setae
and microsclerotia of Colletotrichum truncatum
Shrunken,necrotic lentil pods infection is observed. Brown,circular lesions on
some of the pods and microsclerotia on the peduncle in the middle.
 ETIOLOGY
• It belongs to Subdivison Deuteromycotina.
• It is higher fungi with septate mycelium.
• Mycelium is well developed, septate with branched
hyphae and multinucleate cells.
• The fungi producing asexual fruiting bodies are called
Acervulus.
• Acervulus is a mycelial mat not having wall of its own
and produces a cavity with in which closely packed short
conidiophores forming a bed like mass are produced.
• Conidia is Sickle shape.
Colletotrichum truncatum Colony morphology on
PDA (a) upper,(b) reverse colony
 EPIDEMIOLOGY
• Primary infection- Conidia in infected stems
and leaflets , including on those that have
dropped to the ground.
• Secondary infection – Rain splashed conidia.
• The Disease is polycyclic and can rapidly
spread within a field during periods of rain and
high temperatures.
• The optimal conditions for infection are 24 hrs
of leaf wetness and temperatures of 20-24°C.
 MANAGEMENT
• Crop rotation and foliar fungicide application of
chlorothalonil and several strobilurin products are still
needed to reduce the impact of the disease.
• It is important to apply a fungicide before the canopy closes
over the rows in order to obtain the best possible coverage
of the lower stems.
Cultural control-
• A 3-year period without lentil or faba bean is recommended
to allow adequate reduction of soilborne inoculum.
• Tillage of Anthracnose infested fields should be avoided in
areas with long,cold winters.
Chemical control-
• Seed treatment with Carbendazim/Thiram @2g/kg seeds.
 ASCOCHYTA BLIGHT (Ascochyta lentis)

Lesions on leaflets.Pycnidia in the centre of the lesions.

Lesions on lentil pods.Dark,pinprick- sized pycnidia in
lesion centres.
Ascochyta –infected lentil seeds with severe lesions,shriveling and
extensive discoloration
Pycnidia of Ascochyta lentis in concentric rings in culture (top) and
with masses of conidia (bottom)
 ETIOLOGY
• It belongs to Deuteromycotina.
• It is higher fungi with septate mycelium.
Mode of spread
Primary infection-
• Through the seed or in diseased crop debris.
Secondary infection-
• Spores produced on diseased plants are carried
by rain-splash onto neighboring plants.
 EPIDEMIOLOGY
Ascochyta lentis is seed-borne and seed-transmitted
(the disease is transmitted from infected seeds to
seedlings).
• Disease is favoured by cool, moist weather. An
extended period of leaf wetness is required for
disease development, with maximum disease
developing occurring after 24 to 48 hours of leaf
wetness.
• Temperatures between 50°F and 68°F are highly
favorable for disease development, and maximum
disease development occurs at approximately
59°F.
 MANAGEMENT
Cultural control-
• The most economical and sustainable strategies to control Ascochyta
blight are through resistance breeding alongwith cultural practices.
• Crop rotation(growing lentils only once in four years).
• The use of certified, disease-free seed will help to minimize the
disease.
• Early sowing to escape moist weather at harvest can minimize
disease.
Biological control-
• Seed treatment with Trichoderma viride@5g per kg seeds.
Chemical control-
• Fungicides as benomyl, carbendazim, carbathiin,ipodion and
thiobendazole @ 0.1% (Mertect) are effective.
 BOTRYTIS GRAY MOLD (Botrytis cinerea)

Pale tan spots early symptoms of Botrytis gray mold on lentil leaflets
Patch of lentil plants killed by Botrytis gray mold
Sporulation of Botrytis gray mold on pods and leaflets of infected
lentil plant
Blanched stem lesions on infected lentil plant
Sporulation of Botrytis gray mold on lentil leaflets in the crop canopy
Black sclerotia on lentil stems
 ETIOLOGY
• It belongs to Subdivison Deuteromycotina.
• It belongs to higher fungi.
• Conidiophores- branched, septate, long,
slender, hyaline .
• Apical cell of conidiophore with swollen tips
bearing clusters of conidia on short sterigmata.
• Conidia – hyaline, 1 celled, ovoid.
• Entire structure resemble like grape bunch.
Botrytis cinera growth on different culture media (A)
Potato dextrose agar,(B) Malt Extract Agar,(C) Czepk
media.
Botrytis cinerea conidia under 40X compound
microscope
Conidia under 100X compound microscope
 EPIDEMIOLOGY
• There are several main sources of inoculum of botrytis
grey mould, these include; seed-borne inoculum,
sclerotia,mycelium in old infected trash, and alternate
host.
• Plants High humidity and moderate temperatures with
high moisture favours the diseases.
• Environmental conditions and canopy density have also
been shown to be primary factors that influence the
development of botrytis grey mould epidemics in lentil
crops.Temperatures ranging from 15-25°C and RH>95%
have been found to be optimal for initiation and
• Development of disease particularly at flowering and after
canopy closure.
 MANAGEMENT
Cultural control-
• Practices that have been effective in crop canopy management can be used.
• Lentil varieties Pant L-639 and Pant L-406 are resistant.
• Avoid water logging and dense sowing.
Biological control-
• Seed treatment with Trichoderma harzianum @ 5g/kg seeds.
• Soil application of Trichoderma harzianum 2.5kg mixed with 50kgs of
FYM per acre.
Physical control-
• Deep summer ploughing to destroy sclerotia in soil.
Chemical control-
• Seed treatments with fungicides such as benomyl,carboxin, chlorothalonil
(0.1%) or thiabendazole can reduce seed-borne inoculum levels.
RUST (Uromyces viciae-fabae)

Development of uredia on lentil leaflets

Lentil plant with severe rust infection and symptoms of
Stemphylium blight
Lentil cultivars susceptible (left) and resistant (right)
to rust
 ETIOLOGY
• It belongs to Basidiomycotina.
• Members of this sub-division are highly advanced
fungi.
• The name Basidiomycotina is given because the
fungi produce sexualspores on a special club
shaped fruiting body called basidium.
• A definite number of sexual spores called
basidiospores (usually four in number) are
produced on each basidium.
• Fungi belonging to this sub division are referred as
club fungi.
 EPIDEMIOLOGY
• The disease generally starts from low-lying patches
in the paddock and radiates towards the border.
• Rust is an autoecious fungus, completing its life
cycle on lentil.
• High humidity, cloudy or drizzly weather with
temperatures 20 to 22°C favour disease
development.
• The disease generally occurs during the flowering
/early podding stage.
 Mode of spread
• Primary infection- Through urediospores or
teliospores from alternate hosts, such as beans
and peas, infect the plant.
• Secondary infection-occurs when
Aeciospores infect the plant.
Teliospores Germinating teliospores Uredospores
Pycnia Aecia and Aeciospores
 MANAGEMENT
Cultural control-
• Use Lentil varieties Pant L-639, Pant L-406, Pant L-6, pant L-7 and Pant
L-8 are resistant.
Biological control-
• Use of Trichoderma harzianum 2.5 kg formulation with decomposed
FYM per acre.
Chemical control-
• Use of foliar fungicides as Hexaferb and Dithane M-45 give best control.
• Fungicides as Mancozeb (0.2% a.i.), Bayleton (0.05% a.i) and Calixin
(0.2% a.i.) are found effective against the pathogen.
• Foliar spray of benomyl, carboxin, metalaxyl,
oxycarboxin,thiram,triademafon either alone or in combination of
Dithane M-45 are also effective.