Fusarium wilt- fungal disease of vegetable pea

 

Causal Organism: Fusarium oxysporum f. pisi.

• This seed as well as soil-borne disease has gradually become serious in summer (May-June) sown crop.

Symptom:

• Symptom of the disease is more pronounced in 3 to 5 week old plants. In young seedlings, cotyledons droop and wither.
• Yellowing of lower leaves and stunting of plants.
• The xylem vessels develops brown discolouration and get distorted.
• Leaflet margins curl downward and inward.
• The stem may be slightly swollen and brittle near the soil.
• Internal woody stem tissue often is discolored, turning lemon brown to orange brown.
• Externally, the root system appears healthy; however, secondary root rots are likely to occur on plants wilted for long periods.
• Eventually, wilted plants may die.

  

Control:

• Avoid early sowing in badly infested areas.
• Crop rotation
• Removal of the roots of the diseased plants which reduces the load of inoculum.
• Deep summer ploughing.

Seed treatment with Thiram @ 3 g/kg of seed or with 0.1% Bavistein solution for 30 minutes.