Management of Wilt Disease of Pigeon Pea

Pigeon pea is an important pulse crop in India, accounting for almost 90 percent of world's area and production, affected by the several pathogens. Wilt caused by Fusarium udum is a most important disease of Pigeon pea. The fungus is soil born in nature and causes up to 100 percent yield loss in the susceptible cultivars. For manage this disease chemical based fungicides were adopted by farmers most widely, however there are many drawbacks of chemical fungicides. Pollution to soil, water, air and harmful for human beings, birds, beneficial organisms and their commodities by the accumulation of obnoxious chemical residues due to continues use of fungicides and development of resistance races to these chemicals. Therefore the scientific communities are to look for methods which are ecological friendly, safe and specific for pathogens. Biological approaches are best alternative to chemicals fungicide. As the agriculture, shift towards the organic farming so the biological controls have much better scope in the pest management practices. Keeping this in view, we have tried to put information in this book about biological approach against wilt disease of pigeon pea.