Philippine E-Journals

Effect Of Rust And Mottle Virus Infection On The Growth And Yield Of Groundnut

E H. Estrada | Manuel K. Palomar

 

Abstract:

Two-week old groundnut seedlings (Coronadal variety) were inoculated with rust, Puccinia arachidis Speg. and mottle virus alone or in combination, either simultaneously or a week earlier than the other. Plant height was significantly reduced in plants inoculated with rust a week earlier than the virus but was not affected when each of the pathogens was inoculated alone, simultaneously or when virus was inoculated a week before the rust. Flower formation was delayed in plants simultaneously inoculated with rust and virus and in plants inoculated with rust first before the virus. Neither the different disease combinations nor groundnut mottle alone had a significant effect on maturity, however, rust alone caused the plants to dry up and wither before the expected maturity date. Plants simultaneously inoculated with rust and mottle virus had the least number of rust pustules per leaflet and fewer number of rust-infected leaflets. When yield was expressed in terms of weight of dried seeds, greatest reduction (50%) was obtained in plants inoculated with virus first and rust after one week, followed by plants inoculated first with rust then virus later (43%). Least percentage reduction (19%) was obtained in plants inoculated with virus alone but this had greatest seed discoloration. The least weight of 50 seeds was obtained in plants inoculated with rust first one week prior to virus inoculation. Yield in terms of number and weight of productive pods and number and dry yield of seeds was least in plants inoculated with virus one week prior to rust inoculation.