RA 00183.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT

Current Status of Research on Groundnut
Diseases in Nigeria
O. Alabi, S.M. Misari, S.R. Boye-Goni, and P.E. Olorunju 1
Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) is a major food crop and foreign exchange earner in
Nigeria. Research on major pests and diseases affecting the crop are carried out as they are
serious constraints to its production. This paper reviews and gives the highlights of the
research work in Nigeria.
Seedling Diseases and Seed Dressing
Seeds are subject to contamination and attack, and subsequently yield losses, by pathogens
such as, Macrophomina phaseoli, Fusarium spp, and Phoma spp. It was found that the
traditional seed dressing chemical (Fernasan D® or Aldrex T®) gave better seed germination
than Apron Plus® (metalaxyl + furathiocarb) carbosulfan-thiram based formulations (Marshal
ST®), but the latter gave better control of aphids during the first 18 days after sowing.
Monitoring and screening of new chemicals to ascertain efficacy, safety, and suitability to the
environment are done regularly.
Foliar Diseases
Early leaf spot (Cercospora arachidicola Hori) and late leaf spot (Phaeisariopsis personata
(Berk and Curt) V Arx.) and rust (Puccinia arachidis Speg.) are found to be serious diseases
and most varieties are susceptible to them. Cultural control measures that are currently being
used need to be supplemented with the use of inexpensive fungicides which can be bought
by farmers.
Leaf spot attack results in yield loss of up to 5 0 % or more annually. Dithane-M-45® (Zinc
manganese ethylene bisdithiocarbonate) was recommended to be applied at the rate of 2 kg
ha - 1 in 300 L of water: first spray at 3 weeks after sowing, followed by 9 more applications at
weekly intervals.
Rust (Puccinia arachidis Speg.) first appeared in Nigeria in Oct 1976 and later became
widespread. Fungicide control trials and breeding for resistance to the disease are in progress.
From studies carried out so far, it appears that newer chemicals, carbendazim, tridemorph
+ maneb or tridemorph + MBC + maneb, have systemic activity and require only 4-5
1. Lecturer/Researcher; Deputy Director; Breeder; Breeder/Virologist, IAR, Ahmadu Bello University, PMB 1044,
Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria.
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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