1Sunnhemp Research Station, Pratapgarh-230001, Uttar Pradesh.
2Indian Agricultural Research Institute Regional Station, Kalimpong-734301.
Abstracts of Research Papers Presented during the National Symposium of Indian Virological Society at Unit of Plant Virology, Division of Plant Pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, October 14–1.
Sunnhemp (Crotolaria juncea L) is one of the major bast fibre yielding cash crop as well as green manure and fodder crop grown all over India. A successful cultivation of this crop is hampered due to heavy incidence of several insects and diseases. Recently a survey is conducted in Pratapgarh and its surrounding district of eastern Uttar Pradesh reveals a new type of disease causing interveinal chlorosis and yellowing of leaves was recorded in sunnhemp. Initially this disease appears on older leaves at 40–50 days old plant and latter it systemically spread to young leaves. Diseased plant irrespective of cultivars shows sick appearance with stunted growth and thin stem. Incidence and severity of this disease up to 90% and 55%, respectively, are recorded. Disease causes crop losses of 40–60% in fibre yield. June and after June sown crop shows maximum disease as compared to mid April sown crop where disease is almost free. Preliminary trials of soil and foliar application with macro and micro nutrients causes no effects on disease reaction, tht suggests viral nature of this disease, which needs further diagnosis with biological indexing, serological and molecular methods.
