Phytopathogenic mollicutes

Groundnut is one among India’s most significant food and cash crops and it is also an oilseed crop. It is affected by several fungal, bacterial and viral diseases, which plays a significant impact in lowering its yields. Among the many diseases that affect groundnut, phytoplasma associated diseases were once thought to be rather unimportant. However, the disease’s incidence has been increasing recently and it was likely posing a threat to groundnut farming. An investigation was carried out to identify the symptoms and disease incidence of groundnut phyllody, little leaf, witches’ broom in Andhra Pradesh. A roving survey was conducted across five major groundnut growing districts to assess the incidence of phytoplasmas in the groundnut cultivations, i.e., Anantapur, Kadapa, Kurnool, Sri Satya Sai and Tirupati districts in 2023 “kharif” season. Regarding the symptomatology of phytoplasma of groundnut there is great confusion with peanut bud necrosis, peanut stem necrosis, peanut clump disease, and peanut stunt disease as they share some similar symptoms.