Incidence of Fusarium oxysporum spp. Udum on Pigeonpea in Bundelkhand Region, India

Survey was conducted of pigeonpea growing areas of 4 districts in Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh during 2019-20. Fusarium udum was found constantly associated with the root samples. This indicates that this fungus, a well-known wilt pathogen, was primarily responsible for the wilt disease of pigeonpea. The average disease incidence ranged between 3.25% to 49.00% from district to districts. The average incidence percentage of wilted plants in Chitrakoot district was 39.06% followed by Banda district 25.67%, Hamirpur district 15.99% and Mahoba district 14.64% respectively. The maximum wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) incidences were recorded in Chitrakoot district followed by Banda, Hamirpur, and Mahoba. Chitrakoot isolate of F. udum was found more pathogenic and caused higher wilt incidence than other isolate. All the isolates differed in their radial growth colony characters on both solid media. It was found that PDA was the best medium in compare to PSA. The Chitrakoot isolate and radial growth was fast growing followed by others. Sporulation was moderate to excellent in different isolates. However, the maximum radial growth was a recorded-on PSA in Chitrakoot isolate and minimum radial growth in Mahoba isolate. The most distinguishing characteristic of the macro conidia are their strongly curved or hooked apices and measure 11-21.12 x 1.95 to 3.78µm.