OUTBREAK OF COLLETOTRICHUM BLIGHT OF CHICKPEA AND ESTIMATION OF DISEASE INCIDENCE IN MAJOR CHICKPEA GROWING AREAS OF ANDHRA PRADESH

Rowing survey was conducted to record the incidence of Colletotrichum blight in five major chickpea growing mandals of Kurnool, Anantapur and Prakasam districts and additionally in some mandals of Kadapa and Nellore districts. The results on incidence of Colletotrichumblight disease ranged from 6.3 to 76.5 per cent with the lowest and the highest incidence in Anantapur and Nellore districts, respectively. The pathogen was isolated and identified as Colletotrichumcapsici, based on morphological and cultural characteristics.