eChapters

1. In tea, fermentation, the micro organisms involved in
a) Fusarium                b) Aspergillus
c) Alcaligens               d) None
2. The content of CO2 in beer is about
a) 0.02 – 0.06 %         b) 1.78 – 2.01 %
c) 0.45 – 0.52 %         d) 0.60 – 0.92 %
3. Meat is irradiated to present the outbreak of
a) Shigella                  b) Salmonellosis
c) T.B.                        d) Fever
4. Egg quality is manually checked by seeing it through a temperature it is called
a) Lightening             b) Lamping
c) Sorting                  d) Candling

1. Euricic acid containing group mainly contains which oil
a) Cocoa butter                         b) Groundnut oil
c) Rapeseed /mustard oil         d) Sesame oil
2. Other name of lecithin is
a) Phosphatidyl choline            b) Phosphatidic acid
c) Phosphatidyl ethyl amine     d) Phosphatidyl alcohol
3. Denaturation of proteins means
a) Loss of primary structure
b) Loss of three dimensional structures
c) De-polymerization
d) Copulation

1. Speed of bucket elevator ranges from
a) 2.5 to 2.8 m/s                    b) 2.5 to 4.0 m/s
c) 3.5 to 6.0 m/s                    d) 5.0 to 10.0 m/s
2. The fundamental principle of pressure nozzle is the conversion of pressure energy into
a) Mechanical energy          b) Rotational energy
c) Kinetic energy                 d) Static energy
3. Which conveyer is used for transporting the large quantifier of materials over a very large distance at a low cost
a) Belt conveyer                  b) Chain conveyer
c) Pneumatic conveyer       d) Screw conveyer
4. …………………..conveyer is used to convey sticky materials.
a) Belt conveyer                  b) Chain conveyer
c) Pneumatic conveyer       d) Screw conveyer

1. Texture property of paneer can be best represented by
a) Hardness                    b) Gumminess
c) Springiness                 d) Chewiness
2. Electromagnetic radiation wave length for UV, VIS, NIR radiation should be
a) 300-400 nm, 400-765 nm, 765-3200 nm
b) 765-3200 nm, 400-765 nm, 300-400 nm
c) 400-765 nm, 300-400 nm, 765-3200 nm
d) 300-400 nm, 765-3200 nm, 400-765 nm
3. Voigt model (Kelvin model) consists of
a) Spring and dashpot in series      b) Spring absent
c) Dashpot absent                           d) Spring and dashpot in parallel
 

1. Which acid is found in carbonated non alcoholic beverages?
a) Propionic acid         b) Acetic acid
c) Citric acid                d) Phosphoric acid
2. Ripening of cheese in presence of fungus penicillium roqueforti results change in
a) Texture                    b) Flavor
c) Colour                     d) Both a and b
3. Microorganism responsible for discoloration in fish during spoilage.
a) Alcaligenes             b) Flavobacterium
c) Pseudomonas        d) Rhodotorula
4. Common microbial contaminant is poultry (freshly dressed, eviscerated) food product in
a) Coliforms                b) Pediococcus sp.
c) Bacillus subtilis       d) Pseudomonas

1. Which the increase in temperature, the tensile strength and elastic modulus of material
a) Increase                     b) Decrease
c) Remains constant      d) None
2. Screens are used for mechanical reparation of
a) Solid liquid mixture     b) Solid gas mixture
c) Solid solid mixture      d) Liquid liquid mixture
3. Primary treatment of waste water in a plant will cause a drop of about ……… in the BOD.
a) 60%                           b) 50%
c) 30%                           d) 40%
4. Kicks assumed that the energy required to reduce the material in size was _____________ proportional to the size reduction ratio.
a) Directly                     b) Inversely
c) Equally                      d) None

1. The food qualities such as taste, odour, colour etc. are measured in term of
a) Quick index            b) Organoleptic scale
c) Score card              d) Hedonic scale
2. In UV spectroscopy samples are typically placed in a.
a) Transparent cell     b) Cuvette
c) Silicon glass           d) Both a and b
3. A definite area or a space where some thermodynamic process takes place is known
as.
a) Thermodynamic law            b) Thermodynamic process
c) Thermodynamic system      d) Thermodynamic cycle
4. LMTD in case of parallel flow compared to counter flow would be.
a) More                       b) Less
c) Same                      d) Negative

1. Maize is deficient in
a) Methionine        b) Lysine
c) Tryptophan        d) None
2. Winterization is accomplished to remove.
a) Waxes             b) Cloudiness of Oils
c) SFA                  d) All the above
3. What do you mean from ‘Dhal’ ?
a) Whole dehisced pulse             b) Whole cleaned pulse
c) Dehusked and splitted pulse   d) All the above
4. The separation of the bran from the endosperm of which cereal grain in more difficult.
a) Rye             b) Wheat
c) Triticale       d) None of above

1. The syndrome resulting from the ingestion of toxin in a mold contaminated food is
a) Aspergillosis              b) Enterotoxicosis
c) Mycotoxicosis            d) Neurotoxicosis
2. Patulin is toxic to
a) Mice                           b) Fishes
c) Cattle                         d) Human beings
3. Alimentary toxic aleukia isolated from grain is produced by
a) Alternaria                   b) Cladosporium
c) Fusarium                   d) All of the above
4. Mold nephrosis, a disease in pigs has been associated with
a) Aflatoxin                    b) Patulin
c) Citrinin                      d) Ochratoxin

1. Defects in fresh egg include
a) Bloom                  b) Meat spots
c) Cracks                 d) All of them
2. Green rots in eggs is caused by
a) P. fluorescens                  b) P. graveolens
c) Achromobacterperolens  d) Paracolobactrum
3. Proteus causes spoilage of eggs by producing
a) Red rots               b) Colorless rot
c) Black rots             d) Pink rot
4. Hay odor in fishes is caused by
a) Sporotrichum       b) Enterobacter cloacea
c) P. fluorescens      d) Cladosporium

1. The process preservation of fruits and vegetable with common salt and vinegar is
called
a) Fermentation               b) Pickling
c) Steeping                      d) Asepsis
2. The by product of apple is
a) Rags                           b) Peel
c) Pomace                      d) Stones
3. Fruit for making jelly should be rich in
a) Pectin and acids         b) Acids and protein
c) Protein and sugars     d) Sugars and acids
4. Sweetest sugar in fruit is
a) Sucrose                      b) Fructose
c) Glucose                      d) Galactose

1. …………….. regulates that flow of substances in and out of the cell
a) Cytoplasm                b) Cellwall
c) Ribosome                 d) Cell membrane
2. Bacterial cell lack in which organelle?
a) True nucleus            b) Mitochondria
c) Chloroplasts             d) All
3. Bacterial cell wall is made of
a) Lipid                         b) Protein
c) Phospholipids          d) Peptidoglycan
4. Fungi cell wall is made of
a) Chitin                       b) Protein
c) Phospholipids          d) Peptidoglycan

1. Ascorbic acid is the chemical name of
a) Vitamin K               b) Vitamin C
c) Vitamin B               d) Vitamin A
2. In alkalimetric titrations, the titrant is
a) Iodine                    b) NaOH
c) EDTA                     d) Magnesium
3. EDTA is a
a) Tetradentate Ligand          b) Octadentate Ligand
c) Pentadentate Ligand         d) Hexadentate Ligand
4. The indicator used in the EDTA method is
a) Erichrome black T             b) Benzene
c) Phenopthalene                  d) Ethylene diamine

1. Enzymes are made up of
a) Carbohydrates          b) Proteins
c) Fats                           d) Lipids
2. Immediate precursor of chlorophyll a and chorophyll b is
a) Protochlorophyllide  b) Haemoglobin
c) Biluribin                    d) Xanthophylls
3. Water soluble flavonoid pigments are
a) Lycopene                 b) Lutein
c) Anthocyanins           d) Carotene
4. Which enzyme is used for the production of maltose syrup
a) Destrin                     b) Fungal alpha-amylase
c) Ligase                      d) Dextrose

The overuse of chemical pesticides and farmers’ improper application of them have resulted in a number of issues, including residue in food, feed, and fodder; resistance developing; resurgence, secondary outbreaks; and, most importantly, pollution of the environment. This has caused a condition known as Pesticide Treadmill, which is characterized by the need to apply ever-increasing amounts of chemical pesticides. Integrated Pest/Management was developed as an environmentally sound substitute for the exclusive use of chemicals after Rachel Carson’s book “Silent Spring” in 1962 sparked widespread concern about the overuse of pesticides.
The IDM Concept
In disease management, every alternative control strategy—cultural, biological, mechanical, resistant varieties, physical, etc.—is applied in combination to keep the disease below the threshold of economic injury . In order to control the disease, pesticides are employed if it spreads and hits the economic threshold. With consideration for the agro-ecosystem, this approach to integrated disease management uses the minimum amount of pesticides possible. In reality, we don’t aim for complete control while managing diseases—rather, we let them progress below what is tolerable, such as the economic threshold. Additionally, it offers agents the chance to endure by controlling the diseases and maintaining a particular state of equilibrium. Therefore, the goal of the integrated disease management concept is to manage the disease using all available strategies while achieving positive effects on the environment, society, and economy.

Anti-pathogen Chemicals
The chemical substances that help to retard the activity of pathogens like fungus, bacteria and nematodes are said to be anti-pathogen chemicals.
Aim of use of chemicals in plant disease control
The aim and of use of chemicals in plant disease control are
• To create a toxic barrier between the host surface or tissue and the pathogen .
• To eradicate the pathogen present at a particular site on the host, such as seed, foliage, roots etc.
Functions of chemicals in plant disease control
• Reduction in inoculum density or eradication of inoculum from source of growth, multiplication and survival.
• Inactivaion or destruction of the pathogen when it lands on the treated surface, and
• Cure of the diseased plant.

Plant Quarantine
The term ‘Quarantine’ is derived from the Latin word quarantum, meaning 40. It refers to the 40 days period of detention of ships from countries with bubonic plague and cholera in the Middle Ages. The first such quarantine was imposed in Venice in 1374.Present quarantine laws now include plants. Plant quarantine , restrict entry of plants, plant products, soil, cultures of living organisms, packing materials, and commodities, as well as their containers and means of conveyance to protect agriculture and the environment from avoidable damage by hazardous organisms.They exclude dangerous organisms while permitting plants and plant products to enter. The term exclusion convey this objective more clearly than plant quarantine. Exclusion relates to keeping organisms out; plant quarantine relates to keeping plants out.
In strict sense ‘Plant Quarantine’ refers to the holding of plants in isolation until they are believed to be healthy. Now, broader meaning of the plant quarantine covers all aspects of the regulation of the movement of living plants, living plant parts/plant products between politically defined territories or ecologically distinct parts of them. Intermediate quarantine and post entry quarantine are used respectively to denote the detention of plants in isolationfor inspection during or after arrival at their final destination.

Definition of Host Plant Resistance (HPR)
Those characters that enable a plant to avoid, tolerate or recover from attacks of pathogens under conditions that would cause greater injury to other plants of the same species.
or
Those heritable characteristics possessed by the plant which influence the ultimate degree of loss done by the disease.
or
The inherent ability of an organism (i.e., the crop plant) to resist or withstand the pathogen is called resistance
Classification of Resistance
Each plant species is affected by hundreds of kinds of pathogen. Frequently a single plant is attacked by hundreds of individuals of a pathogen. Yet, those plants survive which are resistant, adapting a number of mechanisms classified variously.
1. Based on existence
a. Preformed
When the resistance is already present in the plant even I the absence of the pathogen, it is known as preformed, axenic or passive

Managing plant diseases is necessary to preserve the quantity and quality of food, feed, and fiber that producers worldwide produce. To avoid, lessen, or manage plant diseases, several strategies may be employed. Aside from using effective horticultural and agronomic techniques, growers frequently largely depend on chemical pesticides and fertilizers. The remarkable increases in crop productivity and quality over the past 100 years have been largely attributed to such agricultural inputs. However, fear-mongering by certain opponents of pesticides and environmental degradation from excessive and improper use of agrochemicals have prompted significant shifts in public perceptions toward pesticide usage in agriculture. Political pressure is present to remove the most dangerous chemicals from the market, and there are stringent limits on the use of chemical pesticides today. Furthermore, because of the potential scale at which such applications could need to be made, the proliferation of plant diseases in natural ecosystems may make the successful application of pesticides impossible. As a result, several researchers studying pest management have concentrated on creating substitutes for artificial chemicals in the management of diseases and pests. Biological controls are one type of alternative among them.

Introduction.
The Cultural practices which includes manipulation /or adjustment of crop production techniques have been as old as possibly agriculture itself. In early stages of agriculture development, the growers through their experiences and observations had known that repeated cultivation of a particular crop species or variety on a piece of land often resulted in crop diseases. By proper crop rotations they had been avoiding such diseases. As a matter of fact, in the present day agriculture, cultural practices are being considered as essential backup methods for plant disease management. Cultural practices often offer the opportunity to alter the environment, the condition of the host, and/or the behavior of the causal agent, to achieve economic management of disease. Most cultural practices used to control plant disease are preventive in nature. Integration of cultural practices, host resistance and pesticides or biocontrol agents may be necessary to provide options for controlling economically important plant diseases.

Principles
The principles involved in thermotherapy is that the pathogens present in seed material are inactivated or eliminated at temperatures nonlethal for the host tissues.The exact mechanism by which heat inactivates the pathogen is not fully understood. However, it is universally accepted that heat causes inactivation and not immobilization of the pathogen by heat. Th rate at which the pathogen is inactivated is determined by temperature, the higher the temperature, the faster is the inactivation. At constant temperature, the drop in the density of pathogenic inoculum.
Methods
Following physical methods are employed for reduction or elimination of primary inoculums that may be present in seed, soil, or planting material.
i. Hot water treatment (HWT)
Hot water treatment is widely used for the control of seed borne pathogens, especially bacteria and viruses. A list of various important diseases claimed to have been controlled by hot water treatment is given in Table-1.

Introduction
The goal of plant disease management is to reduce the economic and aesthetic damage caused by plant diseases. Conventionally, this has been called plant disease control, but current social and environmental values believe “control” as being absolute and the term too rigid. More multifaceted approaches to disease management, and integrated disease management, have resulted from
this shift in attitude, however. Single often severe measures such as pesticide applications, soil fumigation or burning are no longer in common use. Further, disease management measures are often determined by disease forecasting or disease modeling rather than on either a calendar or prescription basis. Disease management might be viewed as proactive whereas disease control is reactive,
although it is often difficult to distinguish between the two concepts, especially in the application of specific measures.
Plant disease management practices rely on anticipating occurrence of disease and attacking vulnerable points in the disease cycle (i.e., weak links in the infection chain). Therefore, correct diagnosis of a disease is necessary to identify the pathogen, which is the real target of any disease management program. A thorough understanding of the disease cycle, including climatic and other environmental factors that influence the cycle, and cultural requirements of the host plant, are essential to effective management of any disease.

Definition of Virus
Viruses are very small (submicroscopic) infectious particles (virions) composed of a protein coat and a nucleic acid core. They carry genetic information encoded in their nucleic acid, which typically specifies two or more proteins. Translation of the genome (to produce proteins) or transcription and replication (to produce more nucleic acid) takes place within the host cell and uses some of the host’s biochemical “machinery”. Viruses do not capture or store free energy and are not functionally active outside their host. They are therefore parasites (and usually pathogens) but are not usually regarded as genuine microorganisms.
Mathwas (1981) considers a virus as a set of one or more template molecules normally encased in a protective coat or coats of protein or lipoprotein, which is able to organize its own replication only within suitable host cells where its production is:
i) Dependent on hosts protein synthesizing machinery (ribosomes).
ii) Organised from pools of required material rather than binary fission and
iii) Located at sites which are not separated from the host cell contents by a lipoprotein bilayer membrane.

Definition
Bacteria belong to proakaryota which encompasses organisms with a primitive type of nucleus lacking a clearly defined membrane .The bacteria are smaller than fungi and measure about 0.5 to 1.0 x 2.0 to 5.0μ.
Structure of bacteria
1. A bacterial cell consists of a cell wall and a compound membrane enclosing protoplasm.
2. The protoplasm contains the nucleus, vacuoles, mesosomes, lipids, polysaccharides, mitochondric granules, and spores.
3. Bacterial cells may have flagella, pili, fimbrae, and capsules on the outside.
4. The bacterial cell contains a characteristics cell wall. The cell wall of bacteria is composed of a peptidoglycan. It is composed of acetyleglucosamine and cetyle-muramic acid .
5. The rigid peptidoglycan layer is located.
6. The latter layer is composed of lipoprotein . It is common in gram negative bacteria.
7. Many bacteria possess other intracellular membrane systems such as mesosomes and chondrioids.
8. The mesosome structure is formed by an invagination of the cytoplasmic membrane.
9. Mesosomes serve for compartmentalization and integration of biochemical systems.

Definition
Fungi are eukaryotic, spore bearing, achlorophyllus, heterotrophic and thallophytic plants with varied forms and habitats, representing heterothallic or homothallic types of sexuality with characteristic sexual and /or asexual means of reproduction without tissue differentiation.
General Characteristics of Fungi
1. Thallus
The body of the fungus is called as Thallus, which is without stem, root and leaves. It may be Plasmodial, Pseudoplasmodial , Pseudomycelial or Mycelial. A single thread like filament is called as hypha. A hypha is made up of a thin, transparent tabular wall filled or lined with a layer of protoplasm.

A group of hypha constituting the body of fungus is called as mycelium may be septate or aseptate. i.e coenocytic.
(a) Coenocytic or Nonseptate or Aseptate Mycelium: When mycelium is not divided by cross walls called as Coenocytic mycelium. Depending upon the nature of parasitism with the host plant, mycelium is either ecotophytic or endophytic.
b) Septate Mycelium: When mycelium is divided by cross walls or septa called as septate mycelium.

Most often, a plant gets diseased when it is harmed by an abiotic agents or attacked by a pathogen. As a result, in the first scenario, interaction and contact between the pathogen and the plant are required for the occurrence of a plant disease. No disease develops even though a pathogen and a plant come into contact if the weather is too extreme at the time of the pathogen’s contact with the plant and for a while afterwards. This could be because the plant is able to fend off the pathogen’s attack or because the pathogen is unable to attack at all. Therefore, it would appear that in order for disease to manifest, a third component—a set of environmental factors falling within a favorable range—must also exist. The degree of disease severity in both individual plants and plant populations is impacted by changes in any one of the three components, which can each show significant fluctuation. Plants can exhibit genetic uniformity over a wide area, be of a species or variety that may be more or less resistant to the pathogen, or they may be too young or too old for the pathogen to prefer. All of these factors can either accelerate or slow down the rate at which a particular pathogen causes disease. The way the three elements of disease interact has frequently been represented as a triangle (Fig. 2-1), which is commonly known as the “disease triangle.”

Parasitism
The term parasitism refers to a parasite’s taking of food from its host. Without chlorophyll, fungi are unable to synthesis their own sources of food. Fungi are classified into three main biological groups according on the basis of mode of the nutrient uptake . Parasites, Saprophytes and Symbionts, The term saprophytes, or saprobes, refers to those fungi that feed on dead and decaying organic matter (Gr. sapros rotten + bios life). Some of them have evolved farther, but they are still unable to grow on other living things and can only exist as saprobes. We refer to them as obligate saprophytes(L. Obligare = to bind sapros) . On the other hand, some species live as saprophytes, but under certain circumstances, they can infect another living entity. We refer to them as facultative parasites (Greek parasitos + Latin facultas ability). Many fungus infect living hosts and deprive them of their food. They are called parasites (Greek: parasitos, which means to eat beside). Additionally, a few of them developed into facultative soprophytes (L. facultatas ability + Gr. sapros) after diverging as obligatory parasites (L. Obligar? to bind + Gr. parasitos table mate). Obligate parasites can only grow in culture on living media; in the wild, they can only feed on living protoplasm. On the other hand, facultative saprophytes are basically parasitic organisms but also capable of growing on dead organic matter under some conditions.

There are thousands of diseases, which attack crop plants. Classification can be made based on several criteria. The various ways of classifying diseases of plants are given below.
A. Based on type of infection
1. Localized disease: Affecting only a part of the plant; leaf spots and anthracnoses caused by different fungi.
2. Systemic disease: affecting the entire plant.
B. Based on symptoms: Rusts smuts, wilts, blights, cankers, mildews, rots, damping-off, die-back, scab etc.
C. Based on the host plant
1. On the basis of host e.g. Diseases of apple, diseases of wheat, diseases of rose, diseases of coconut, diseases of coffee, diseases of cotton.
2. On the basis of host group- e.g. cereal crop disease, pulse crop diseases, oilseed crop diseases, root crop disease, forage crop disease, plantation crop disease etc.

Plant diseases are classified on the basis of type of pathogenic or nonpathogenic causes of the disease. The classification is based on the plant pathogenic organisms as follows.
1. Parasites
They include both biotic and mesobiotic agents. The diseases are incited by parasites under a set of suitable environment. Association of definite pathogen is essential with each disease.
i. Biotic agents: They are also called as animate causes. They are living organisms.Biotic agents include
1. Prokaryotes
a. True bacteria or bacteria (Facultative parasites) e.g. Citrus canker.
b. Rickettsia-like bacteria (RLB) e.g. Citrus greening, Pierce’s disease of grape.
c. Mollicutes or wall-less prokaryotes
i. Mycoplasma-like organism (MLO) e.g. Sesame phyllody, Egg plant little leaf.
ii. Spiroplasma e.g. Corn stunt, Citrus stubborn.

History in general reveals chronological account of important events, contribution of persons who significantly influenced the thinking of their era and the interpretations of the observed facts or phenomenon over the period of time. The progress in plant pathology leading to the major land mark in mycology, plant bacteriology, plant virology and plant disease control has been described in chronological order for easy and better understanding of the student in following sub-headings.
 

For the accurate identification and diagnosis of plant disease and plant problems a foundational knowledge of terms and definitions is vital for developing concepts, doing research, discussing and communicating issues and providing clarity to your work. The following terms and definitions are basic to the study of plant pathology. They are, however, just a brief introduction to the vocabulary of the science. If you have limited or no background in the subject and you are just getting started, the concepts and terminology of plant problems can seem somewhat daunting. However, your vocabulary and skill will develop through exposure to diagnostics, experience and correct use of the appropriate terms.
Plant pathology (gr., path -“suffering”- “logy”, the science of) is the study of plant diseases and the abnormal conditions that constitute plant disorders. Etiology is the determination and study of the cause of disease. A pathogen can be living or non-living, but usually refers to a live agent. A pathogen is an organism which causes a disease. Pathological is a condition of being diseased. Pathogenic is having the characteristics of a pathogen and pathogenicity is the capability of a pathogen to cause a disease.

Disease
Disease is one of those terms that are very difficult to define. It is realized that disease (literally dis-ease) implies lack of ‘comfort’and therefore, involves deviation from normal functioning. From time to time several definitions which have been proposed, in fact descriptive but not simultaneously exclusive. The definitions for the term disease are:
• Disease is a malfunctioning process that is caused by continuous irritation, which results in some suffering producing symptoms.
• Disease is an alteration in one or more of the ordered sequential series of physiological processes culminating in a loss of coordination of energy utilization in a plant as a result of the continuous irritation from    the presence or absence of some factor or agent.
• Disease is any morphological or physiological abnormality in a plant or any of its parts caused by continuous irritation and results in economic losses to human beings.
• Any deviation from normal growth or structure of plants that is sufficiently pronounced and permanent to produce visible symptoms or to impair quality and economic value.
• A plant is said to be diseased when there is a harmful deviation from normal functioning of physiological process .

Plant Pathology
The term Plant Pathology is derived from greek words- pathos (suffering) + logos (study) i.e. the study of the suffering plant. Plant Pathology has two phases broadly-
• Science- Understanding of the disease i.e. the theoretical consideration of the suffering plants and how do pathogens invade, how do plants defend themselves, what causes symptoms etc.
• Art- The application of the science to the field problems i.e. Diagnosis and Control.
Plant pathology or phytopathology is the branch of agricultural, botanical or biological science which deals with the cause, etiology, resulting in losses and management methods of plant diseases. 
Plant pathology can also be defined as the study of the nature, cause and prevention of plant diseases. Plant pathology is related to most of the old and new sciences like biology, physics, chemistry, physiology, mathematics, genetics, soil science, biochemistry, biotechnology etc.

BERSEEM CLOVER (Trifolium alexandrinum)
Fungal diseases
i) Damping-off
Symptoms
Pre-emergence damping-off: Seeds decay inside the soil.
Post-emergence damping-off: Sometimes after germination water-soaked blighted seedlings develop. Seedlings collapse and wilt. Stem and root tissues rot below the soil surface.
Causal organism
i) Pythium spinosum var. spinosum
ii) Rhizoctonia solani
Favourable condition
i) Promoted by high humidity
ii) Poor air circulation.

MINT (Mentha sp)
Fungal diseases
1. Stolon Rot
Symptoms: Yellowing of leaves is observed at early stage of infection. In later stage wilting of plants are noticed followed by drying of the entire plants.
Causal organism: Macrophomina phaseoli
Management
i) Stolons should be collected from healthy fields.
ii) Use of healthy and disease free stolons for planting.
ii) Treatment of stolons with Metalaxyl 8% + Mancozeb 64% WP (0.3%)
before planting.
2. Rust
Symptoms. In the spring or summer season the leaves and upper portion of stems are affected and become twisted. Yellow/ dusty orange pustules appear on the leaves and stems. In later part the pustules become black. Drying of leaves followed by defoliation occur.

SUGARCANE (Saccharum officinarum)
Fungal diseases
1) Red rot
Symptoms: It is one of the most destructive disease of sugarcane. Dark reddish spot with brown margin appear along the mid rib. When the diseased canes are split open red blotches with transversely elongated white centres are seen. Under humid conditions numerous black dot like acervuli develop in the central discoloured portions. The diseased tissues emit a typical alcoholic odour. The juice of the affected stalks gives a sour alcoholic smell.
Causal organism: Colletotrichum falcatum
Management
i) Select healthy and disease free setts.
ii) Dip the setts on Carbendazim 50% WP or Thiophanate Methyl 70% WP @0.15% solution for 30 minutes before planting.
iii) Avoid rationing of infested crops.
iv) Growing resistant/tolerant varieties, i.e. Co6907, Co 7219, Co838,
 

COTTON (Gossypium spp)
Fungal diseases
1) Damping off
Symptoms: The seeds may rot. Initially the roots and hypocotyls become water soaked and pale green in colour. The hypocotyls become constricted above the soil level and seedlings fall down. Causal organism: Pythium aphanidermatum
Management
i) Seed treatment
ii) Growing of resistant varieties.
2) Root rot
Symptoms: Roots of infected plants rot and show shredding of the bark. The affected plants can be easily pulled out.
Causal organism: Rhizoctonia solani

GROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogea)
Fungal diseases
1) Collar rot
Symptoms: The hypocotyls of germinating seeds are infected. The germinating seeds become covered with sooty black masses of spores. The infected tissues become dark brown and shredded. Necrosis and shredding of tissues may extend into branches.
The organism is both soil borne and seed borne.
Causal organism: Aspergillus niger
Management
i) Seed treatment with Carbendazim 50% WP @ 2-2. 5g/kg or Carboxin 37.5% WP +Thiram 37.5% WP @ 3gm/kg of seed.
ii) Growing of resistant varieties like Smruti

GREEN GRAM (Vigna radiata) & BLACK GRAM (Vigna mungo)
Fungal diseases
1) Seed and seedling rot
Symptoms: The seeds rot before germination and after germination the seedlings also show rotting. The disease can be easily identified by poor germination and poor stand of the crop.
Causal organisms
i) Fusarium sp
ii) Pythium sp
iii) Rhizoctonia solani
iv) Macrophomina phaseoli
 

FINGER MILLET (Eleusine coracana)
Fungal diseases
1) Blast
Symptoms: The above ground parts (leaf, leaf sheath, stems) of the plant exihibit the symptoms. The seedlings and adult plants are affected by the pathogen. Eye-shaped spots appear on leaf and leaf sheath having dark brown margin with ashy centre. These spots coalesce to form large patches and the leaves are blighted. Affected leaves wither prematurely and the seedlings may be killed. Lesions appear on the leaf blades, leaf sheaths and culms on adult plants and cause blightening.

RICE (Oryza sativa)
Fungal diseases
1. Blast
Symptoms: All above ground parts (leaf, leaf sheath, culm) of the plant are affected. There are three type of blasts (leaf blast, node blast, neck blast)
Leaf blast: Eye or spindle shaped spots on leaves (margin is dark brown and centre becomes ashy) and leaf sheath are observed. Several spots appear on the leaves cause blightening.

Cocoa, Theobroma cacao is an important commercial plantation crop of humid tropics. It was introduced as a mixed crop in India and is cultivated in coconut and arecanut plantations large scale from 1970 onwards. It is grown as an under- storey intercrop with sufficient shade in southern states of India. Tamil Nadu is the major cocoa producing state in India. Some pests of economic importance are described hereunder:

Mealy bugs, Planococcus lilacinus (Ckll.) and P. citri (Pseudococcidae: Hemiptera)

These two species are most prevalent in all cocoa growing tracts of the country. Beside cocoa, it also infests coffee, citrus, guava, mango, etc. The adult female is an oval wingless insect which measures 4mm in length. The body colour is chocolate brown and the dorsal body surface is covered with thick waxy covering (Plate 14g). The male is winged and free living.

India produces two types of coffee i.e. arabica, Coffea arabica and robusta, C. canephora. The former has higher market value than the latter. Coffee is cultivated mainly in the Southern parts of India with Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu being the major coffee producing states. Some of the major pests which limits the cultivation of coffee are described below:

White stem borer, Xylotrechus quadripes Cheverolat (Cerambycidae: Coleoptera)

It is a serious pest of Arabica coffee in India. Alternate host plants include Robusta coffee, teak and Indian olive tree. Eggs are milky white when freshly laid but turns yellow later on. These are elongate, oval in shape and measures 1.25 –1.28 mm in length and 0.46 – 0.5 mm in width. The adult is a dark brown longicorn beetle (16mm long) and bears several white markings on the elytra (Plate 14c). The pale yellow stout full grown grub broader towards the anterior most region, measures 20-30 mm in length.

Tea, Camellia sinensis is one of the most important beverage crops. India is the second largest producer of tea globally. North eastern parts contribute to 80 per cent of the total tea production in the country with majority coming from Assam and West Bengal. Southern parts contribute around 20 per cent with Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka being the major tea producing states. About 150 insect pests are reported on tea out of which foliage feeders like Tea mosquito bug, bunch caterpillar and mites act as direct pests. The details of major insect pests are being given hereunder:

Tea mosquito bug, Helopeltis antonii Signoret and H. theivora Waterhouse (Miridae: Hemiptera)

This is one of the major pests of tea in India and besides tea it also infests cashew, neem, drumstick and guava. The eggs are sausage shaped and bear two minute hairs on operculum, which project out of the egg. Nymphs of H. antonii are reddish and ant-like, while those of H. theivora are dirty yellow or greenish yellow. The adult of H. antonii is a reddish-brown bug with black head, red thorax and black and white abdomen, whereas, the adult of H. theivora is a small, active elongated bug with black or olive green head

Cashewnut, Anacardium occidentale is one of the important plantation crops grown for its delicious kernel. It is mostly grown in coastal belts of South-West and South-East India including the states like Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal and also in the non-traditional areas including inlands of central India and parts of Northeastern regions. It is an important cash crop and has attained the status of export-oriented commodity. In India alone around 200 insect pests have been reported on cashew causing damage during different stages of crop growth. Stem and root borer and Tea mosquito bugs, blossom webber and leafminer pests of economic importance, the details of which is given hereunder:

Stem and root borer, Plocaederus ferrugineus L. and P. obesus Gahan (Cerambycidae: Coleoptera)

It is a very serious pest of cashew in both east and west coasts of India. It is also recorded on sapota, drumstick and citrus trees. Among the two species, P. ferrugineus is the commonly occurring species. Eggs are pale white, ovoid and smooth measuring about 4.5 x 2.0mm. The grubs are stout, fleshy ivory yellow with dark brown head and wrinkled body without legs, and measures 75mm in length, when full grown. The adult of P. ferrugineus is a medium sized (2540mm) dark brown longicorn beetle

India is the largest producer and consumer of areca nut, Areca catechu also known as betel nut or supari, in the world. It also holds significant cultural and religious importance. Major cultivation is done in Karnataka, Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya and West Bengal. Spindle bug and inflorescence caterpilar are the major pests alongwith root grub, the details of which are provided hereunder:

Spindle bug, Mircarvalhoia arecae (Miller and China) (Miridae: Hemiptera)

It is a major indirect pest of arecanut plantations in all arecanut growing tracts. Eggs are oval having 2 bristle like structures arising from operculum. The nymphs are greenish to violet brown, thorax and border of the abdomen light violet brown and head is light yellow with red eyes. The adult is a hairy dark violet brown bug with black tipped abdomen (Plate 12h) and measures 6mm in length and 2mm in breadth.

Plantation Crops

Plantation crops occupy an area of around 4 million hectares which is about 2.8 per cent of the total cropped area. However, the export potential of these crops is high and they account for 27 per cent of total agricultural export. The common plantation crops include coconut, oil palm, areca nut, tea, coffee, cocoa, cashewnut and rubber etc. Various pests infest these crops at different stages and cause economic damage. The crop wise details are as under:

Coconut Coconut,

Cocos nucifera also known as ‘Kalpa Vriksha’, as all the parts of the tree are utilized in one or other way. India is the largest producer of coconut in the world. Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh accounts for 90 per cent production of coconut. The other states namely West Bengal, Odisha ,Gujarat, Assam and Bihar contribute around 10 per cent of the total coconut producción. Pests at different stages of crop growth infest coconut tres, resulting in significant economic damage.

Fig, Ficus carica grows in both mild temperate climates and in the tropics. In India, it is a minor fruit crop and the commercial cultivation is mainly confined to Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu though is slowly spreading to warmer areas of Northern parts of the country. Very few insect pests come under the major category, the description of which is provided below:

Stem borer, Batocera rufomaculata (Cerambycidae: Coleoptera)

It is commonly known as mango and fig borer. The adults of this pest bear long serrated antennae and are also called as longicorn beetles. The adults get attracted to light. The female cuts the tree bark and lays eggs singly into these cuts, laying a total of up to 200 eggs. On hatching the larvae start to tunnel into the sapwood of the trunk or branches. The larvae pupate inside the tunnel and the adult comes out of pupae by cutting a circular hole. Frass comes out

Aonla or Indian gooseberry, Emblica officinalis is indigenous to Indian sub-continent. India ranks first in the world in area and production of this crop. Aonla is mainly cultivated in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh etc. It performs well even in the wastelands. Aonla is a plant of great medicinal value and its fruits are a rich source of vitamin C. It has acrid, cooling, diuretic and laxative properties. Dried fruits are useful in hemorrhages, diarrhoea, dysentery, anaemia, jaundice, dyspepsia and cough. Aonla is used in the indigenous medicines (Aurvedic system) viz. trifla and chayvanprash. Fruits are commonly used for preserve (murabbas), pickles, candy, jelly and jam. Besides fruits, leaves, bark and even seeds are being used for various purposes. Very few insect pests are reported on aonla and the details of which are provided here under:

Mealy bug, Planococcus citri Risso (Pseudococcidae: Hemiptera)

It is a highly polyphagous pest feeding on wide range of cultivated/ uncultivated plants. Citrus, mango, guava are few major hosts besides aonla. The bug is a small soft bodied insect the female of which is wingless