Explore common diseases causing yellowing in Bengal gram crops, their symptoms, and integrated management practices. Ideal for students and enthusiasts seeking to enhance crop disease recognition skills.
Which fungal disease is primarily responsible for causing yellowing and wilting in chickpea plants, often resulting in patchy fields?
Explanation: Fusarium wilt is a major fungal disease in chickpea, leading to yellowing leaves, wilting, and stunted growth. Root-knot nematode is a different pathogen, primarily a pest, that causes galling rather than yellowing alone. Bacterial blight typically shows as water-soaked lesions, not generalized yellowing. Powdery mildew produces white powdery patches and does not cause significant yellowing.
If a chickpea crop shows stunted growth, mottled yellow leaves, and excessive branching, which viral disease is the most likely cause?
Explanation: Chickpea stunt virus leads to yellowing, stunting, and bushy appearance in plants. Rust causes rust-colored pustules, not typical yellowing. Collar rot affects the stem base, not leaves, leading to collapse, while leaf spot causes localized lesions without excessive branching or viral-like symptoms.
Yellowing in chickpea plants, especially lower leaves, can be linked to which soil-borne nematode pest that forms root galls?
Explanation: Root-knot nematodes damage roots and reduce nutrient uptake, causing yellowing and visible galls. Ascochyta blight causes dark lesions, downy mildew appears as downy growth and leaf curling, and anthracnose leads to dark, sunken spots, not root galls.
To minimize yellowing from Fusarium wilt in Bengal gram, which management practice is most effective?
Explanation: Crop rotation with cereals disrupts disease cycles for soil-borne fungi like Fusarium wilt. Increasing irrigation may worsen wilt symptoms. Micronutrient sprays help with deficiencies, not fungal wilt. Delaying sowing can make crops vulnerable to other stresses and is not specific to Fusarium control.
Which insect is known to transmit the majority of viral diseases causing yellowing in chickpea fields?
Explanation: Aphids are major vectors for chickpea viruses, rapidly spreading infections via sap feeding. Thrips and whiteflies do spread some plant viruses but are not the primary vectors in chickpea. Leaf miners create tunnels in leaves but do not transmit viral diseases.