Prevalence and severity of anthracnose diseases of green gram [Vigna radiata (L.)] caused by Colletotrichum truncatum (Schw.) in arid ecosystem of India

Production and productivity of green gram are mainly constrained by fungal diseases which led to a yield loss of 20-80 %. In the present study, geo-referenced surveys were conducted weekly during July-August of, 2023-24 and 2024-25 in three major green gram producing districts of Rajasthan namely, Bikaner, Jodhpur and Nagaur, to assess the prevalence and severity of green gram anthracnose disease (GAD) in the arid ecosystem of India. The disease index in the range of 25.02-31.85 % and 28.40-35.19 % were recorded in 2023-24 and 2024-25 respectively. Correlation studies between per cent disease index (PDI) and weather parameters, maximum temperature (Tmax), minimum temperature (Tmin), morning relative humidity (RHM), evening relative humidity (RHE) and rainfall (RF) revealed that RHM and RHE had a positive correlation with PDI across all three districts. The predisposition of the disease found in this study provided an overall study for disease management programme in the speedily expanding of green gram cultivation in India.