1Department of Seed Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India
2Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India
*Corresponding Author: K. Malarkodi, Department of Seed Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu, India, Email: jujumalar2000@gmail.com
Online published on 29 January, 2026.
Groundnut, also known as peanut is a vital crop worldwide, valued for its oil and protein-rich seeds. However, globally the production of groundnut is constrained by a number of biotic and abiotic factors, which significantly reduce yield. Among these, seed borne pathogen plays a major role.In order to manage plant disease and increase the yield, chitosan was used in this study since it is a natural polymer derived from chitin found in crustacean shells.
Groundnut seeds were treated with chitosan 1.5 and 2.0% along with bio-control agents and carbendazim.Treated seeds were sown in field and observations viz., disease incidence (%), field emergence (%), plant height, flowering characters, yield attributing pod and seed characters were recorded.
The results revealed that no disease incidence was recorded in chitosan treated seeds. Seeds treated with chitosan 2% increased the field emergence and plant height up to 13 and 17 per cent over control, respectively. Chitosan 2% treated seedsinitiated flowers 4 days earlier than the control seeds and also quickly attained the 50% flowering. Apart from this, seeds treated with chitosan 2% increased the pod yield and seed yield ha-1 up to 27 and 29 per cent, respectively. In between the biocontrol agents, Bacillus subtilis showed an increased yield and yield attributing parameters.
Bacillus subtilis, Chitosan, Groundnut, Growth and yield attributing characters, Seed treatment, Trichoderma asperellum
