RA 00183.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT

Pathology
Research on Groundnut Diseases at the
Niaouli Research Station in Benin
O.A. Sanni 1
The Food Crop Research Station, at Niaouli, is a unit of the Agricultural Research Directorate
(DRA). Its aim is to promote research on food crops in the central and southern regions of
Benin (Zou, Mono, Atlantique, and Oueme).
ICRISAT-Niaouli Joint Trial on Groundnut Crop
Losses D u e to Leaf Diseases
The purpose of the trial in 1989 and 1990 was to assess the effectiveness of Corvet CM®
fungicide in combating groundnut leaf diseases, notably late leaf spot and rust. Six varieties
of groundnut were tested with and without CORVET CM® applications, at the Niaouli station
using a split-plot design.
Results
Due to certain technical problems, the results for 1989 were not satisfactory. In 1990, however,
the trial began on 20 Apr and the first symptoms of late leaf spot were not observed until
after the first fortnight in June.
Magnesium deficiency was, however, found very early on the plants. All varieties, except
55-437 (the earliest to mature), had healthy foliage on the plots which had been treated
before harvest. The haulm yield from all varieties on the treated plots, therefore, doubled in
contrast to untreated plots.
There were very few cases of rust, especially in 1990 when, on the whole, the disease
pressure was hardly more than 5%.
Yields were rather low in 1990, mainly due to the poor quality of the soil where the trials
were held, and to rodent attack.
1. Chef, Division Protection phytosanitaire, Station de recherche sur les cultures vivrieres, Niaouli, B.P. 3, Attogon,
Benin.
Citation: ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics). 1991. Summary Proceedings of
the Second ICRISAT Regional Groundnut Meeting for West Africa, 11-14 Sep 1990, ICRISAT Sahelian Center,
Niamey, Niger. Patancheru, A.P. 502 324, India: ICRISAT.
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