P.21. Status of potato stem necrosis disease in northern hill region of Chhattisgarh, India

Stem-necrosis caused by Groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV) is an important disease for potato cultivation. This disease was reported from the different parts of Central India. Northern hills region is one of the most important regions for potato production in the newly created state of Chhattisgarh. In this region, potato is cultivated twice in a year during kharif (rainy) and rabi (post-rainy) seasons. Stem-necrosis disease is a limiting factor for potato cultivation in this region due to its occurrence in epidemic proportion during the last few years. The disease was recorded 30–45% in early and 3–7% in late-planted rabi crop. Systematic survey was done during 2002–04 to record the incidence in different locations of the region at farmer's fields as well as government farms in both the seasons. Details of the seasonal and regional incidence of the disease will be presented.