Survey for the Incidence of Fusarium wilt in Sunhemp in the Regions of Dharwad and Haveri Districts of Karnataka

Abstract

Fusarium wilt, caused by the fungal pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum, is a major disease affecting a wide range of crops, leading to significant yield losses globally. This study was conducted to assess the incidence of Fusarium wilt across three distinct locations: College of Agriculture (CoA), University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad, Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Mugad and College of Agriculture, Hanumanamatti. A systematic survey was carried out during the cropping season, where the prevalence and severity of the disease were recorded in various fields at each location. The data collected included soil type, percentage of infected plants, the extent of wilting symptoms, and occurrence of other diseases. The survey results indicated that, the highest incidence of disease was recorded in G and F block (43.67 %) followed by B block (9.71 %) at UAS Campus, in Dharwad district and lowest incidence was recorded from COA, Hanumanamatti (7.33 %) in Haveri district. The differences in disease incidence were attributed to variations in environmental conditions, crop management practices, and soil health. Understanding the distribution and factors influencing Fusarium wilt can aid in developing effective management strategies to mitigate its impact on crop production. Further research is needed to explore resistant varieties and improved agronomic practices to control Fusarium wilt in these regions.