Effect of variation in the sowing dates on foliar blight of onion

Foliar blight is an important disease of onion which has emerged as a major bottleneck in releasing the full genetic potential of the crop. The experiment was carried out on N-53 variety of onion for two consecutive years under randomized block design with seven replications at the university research farm of SKUAST-Jammu, Chatha. The experiment comprised three sowing dates starting from 14 October and subsequently at fifteen day intervals. In the present study Alternaria alternata, A porri and Stemphylium vesicarium were observed as the major pathogens whereas A tenuissima, Cladosporium allii-cepae and Colletotrichum circinans as minor pathogens associated with the disease. Sowing of crop on 1 November resulted in significantly lower disease intensity (42.49 and 35.17% in the first and second year respectively) and recorded higher yield (258.98 and 300.68 q/ha in the first and second year respectively) than sowing on either 14 October or 14 November.