Survey and Surveillance of Alternaria Blight of Safflower Caused by Alternaria Carthami in Marathwada Region

Survey & Surveillance of Alternaria blight of safflower in Marathwada region revealed average disease incidence and disease severity to the tune of 60.43 % and 34.90 % respectively. Districtwise survey report indicated maximum diseases incidence and disease severity in district Latur [66.12 & 40.61 %] followed by Aurangabad, Jalna, Osmanabad, where as lowest in Nanded [54.71 & 28.81 %]. Further study indicated that safflower varieties succumbed to blight infection caused by Alternaria carthami Alternaria blight disease incidence were recorded in the range of 58.86 to 70.66 per cent. Pathogen was isolated, purified and its pathogenicity was proved in pot culture. Further on the basis of morphological, cultural characteristics of pathogen and symptomatology, the fungal pathogen was identified as Altefnaria carthami.