Management of sterility mosaic disease in pigeonpea caused by pigeonpea sterility mosaic virus (PPSMV)

Sterility Mosaic Disease (SMD) caused by Pigeonpea Sterility Mosaic Virus (PSMV) is one of the major threats to pigeonpea productivity in India. The incidence of disease under favorable conditions may reduce the yields by up to 80-90%. The virus is transmitted through the eriophyid mite Aceriacajani. Plant viral diseases are managed either through vector control or by the application of antiviral principles. Therefore the present investigation was carried out to find effective acaricides and plant products for the management of SMD. Among all the treatments tested, seed treatment with imidacloprid 70% WS @ 5 g/kg seed+foliar spraying of fenpyroximate 5 EC @ 0.1% (1 ml/L of water) was found to be the most effective in controlling vector and in turn reduced the incidence of sterility mosaic disease with the lowest mean of 22.1% disease incidence as compared with the control (61%).