Weed and crop plants as reservoirs of peanut bud necrosis tospovirus and its occurrence in South India

Abstract

Survey was carried out on occurrence of peanut bud necrosis disease (PBND) in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh (AP) the major groundnut growing states in South India. PBND incidence was observed on crops, viz., greengram, blackgram, tomato, watermelon, cowpea, chilli, cucumber and sesame besides groundnut. The PBND incidence was higher in rainy season crops than in post-rainy season. Its proportion varied from place to place, and it was high in the vegetable and pulses growing areas. The weed plant species Achyranthus aspera, Acalypha indica, Alysicarpus rugosus, A. longifolia, Commelina bengalensis, Commelina jacobi, Corchorus trilocularis, Cyanoptis cuculetta, Eclipta alba, Euphorbia geniculata, Lochnera pusilla, Physalis minima and Sesbania rostrata were recorded for the first time as alternate hosts of PBND. Infection was also noticed for the first time on cucumber, muskmelon and sesame crops. Five weed species, viz., Achyranthus aspera, Ageratum conyzoides, Alysicarpus rugosus, Commelina bengalensis and Vigna trilobata were found abundant in AP and Karnataka. More infection was observed on Ageratum conyzoides (17.56%) compared with other weeds.

Keywords:

• groundnut
• Arachis hypogaea
• peanut bud necrosis virus
• weeds
• crops
• epidemiology