Fusarium wilt

General Information : caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.ciceri. A seed and soil borne disease. Incidence is generally higher in warmer and drier climates and in the absence of crop rotations.       Symptoms : The field symptoms are dead seedlings or plants, usually in patches. The disease can be observed within 2 weeks of sowing. Seedlings collapse and lie flat on the ground with dull green color. When uprooted, plants show uneven shrinking of the stem above and below the collar region (soil level). When split open vertically from the collar dark brown to black discoloration tissues is visible. Lesions on leaflets Died infected flowers

Control : Use disease-free seed. Avoid sowing when temperatures are high. Follow 6-year crop rotations. Grow resistant varieties. Seed tratment with Bavistin (carbendazim) 3 g kg-1, or Benlate (benomyl + thiram) 3 g kg-1.