Major Seed-Borne Diseases in Important Pulses: Symptomatology, Aetiology and Economic Importance

Abstract

Pulses are an important accompaniment in the diet along with staples like rice and wheat. They are very important for food security and more importantly nutrition security particularly for large vegetarian population, where the major sources of protein are vegetable sources. Pulses contain other essential nutrients that help the body fight vitamin and mineral deficiencies and diseases. Additionally, pulses contribute to soil fertility due to their nitrogen-fixing ability, thus reducing usage of chemical fertilizers in subsequent crops. Realizing the importance of pulses in the human diet, 2016 has been declared the International Year of Pulses (IYP). Pulse crops suffer losses due to diseases, insect pests, drought, waterlogging, salinity and a variety of other stress factors. Thus, several factors are responsible for low production of pulses. Seed is the first source of inoculum of pathogens and its transmission. ‘Pathogen-free’ or ‘disease-free’ or ‘zero-tolerance’ concept becomes practically an unrealistic and impossible goal under these conditions. Among the diseases of pulses, seed-borne/seed-transmitted diseases play a crucial role in the reduction of achievable crop yields. The major seed-borne diseases of pulses are Ascochyta blight, Botrytis (grey) mould, Stemphylium blight, anthracnose, Alternaria leaf spots, bacterial blight, mosaic, etc. In consideration of all these factors, the important seed-borne diseases of major pulses and their management are discussed in this chapter.