Studies on the Efficacy and Management of Seed Borne Diseases and its Economics in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Pulses are important constituents of Indian diet and supply major part in protein requirement. India is the largest producer and also consumer of pulses in the world and it is a cheaper source of protein to overcome malnutrition among human beings. Pulses contain high percentage of quality protein nearly three times as much as cereals (Uma Devi and Ganesan, 2007). Globally recognized Desi and Kabuli types chickpea is a member of Fabaceae family and it is a cool season domesticated crop. The entire surface of the plant shoot, except the corolla, is densely covered with fine hairs known as trichomes, many are glandular and secrete a highly acidic substance containing malic, oxalic and citric acids. These acids play an important role in protecting the plant against insect-pests.Chickpea accounts for more than 20% of global pulse production with  a productivity of 1192 kg/ha, India leads the globe in chickpea area (9.99 million ha) and production (11.97 million tonnes). With an area of (7.13 lakh ha) and an annual production of 4.45 lakh tonnes, Karnataka is India’s fourth largest producer of chickpeas, with an average productivity of 625 kg/ha (Anonymous, 2021). Chickpeas are widely grown in Northern Karnataka. The pathogens are inevitable guest menacing at different growth stages starting from emerging seedling stages to harvesting and continue till post-harvest interlude. They affect seed storability, physical appearance, viability and germinations. The proper identifications of these pathogens, their symptomatological appearance on the affected plants and their host pathogen relationship will definitely help us to formulate management strategies effectively that will ultimately increase the yield  and better  of pulses. Seed borne diseases are regarded as major constraints in chickpea production. Infected seeds serve as the source for the spread of the pathogen in disease free area. Seed infection affects the import and export adversely because the seed affected with microbes is not acceptable in international market. Infected seeds fail to germinate or seedlings and plants grown from infected seeds in the field may avoid early infection, but at the later stage of growth they may also be affected (Gupta, 2006). In addition, pathogens may spread over a long distance and the seeds in which various pathogens are present will invade uninfected fields (Fakir et al., 2001).The seed treatment with bioagents is safe, economical, eco-friendly, cheap, can be done easily with locally available materials and non-harmful to seed, animals and human beings and seed treatment with fungicide has help to protect seeds from mycoflora not only in storage but also to protect the germinating seedling and promote good establishment. Therefore an attempt has been made to study the efficacy and management of seed borne diseases and economics in chickpea.

The field experiment was carried out in Regional  Agricultural Research Station, College of Agriculture, Vijayapura, Karntaka state during rabi 2021-2022 to study the efficacy and management of seed borne disease and economics of seed production in chickpea in field. Eight treatments of fungicides and bioagents and combi- product of fungicide and bioagents viz.,T₁: Carboxin 37% + thiram 37% DS @ 2 g/kg of seeds, T₂: Carbendazim 25% + mancozeb 50% WS @ 3.5 g/kg of seed, T₃: Thiophanatemethyl 45% + pyraclostrobin 5% FS @ 4 ml /kg of seeds, T₄: Seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10/kg of seed, T₅: Seed treatment with Trichoderma harzianum@ 10/kg of seed, T₆: Seed treatment with Bacillus thuringenesis @ 10/kg of seed, T₇: Seed treatment with Trichoderma harzianum @ 10/kg of seed + carbendazim 25% + mancozeb 50% WS @ 3.5 g/kg of seed T₈: Control (without seed treatment) were used. Observations on seed quality parameters on seed growth and yield parameters, disease incidence along with biochemical parameters and economics parameters were recorded (Anonymous, 2019).

The results  on seed  yield  and yield attributing parameters are presented in Table 1 and 2. Seed treatment with carbendazim 25% + mancozeb 50% WS @ 3.5 g/kg of seed (T₂) recorded  significantly higher seed yield (1103 kg/ha) followed by T₃ (1083 kg/ha), T₁ (1070 kg/ha), T₇ (1010 kg/ha) as compared to control (811 kg/ha). Treatment carbendazim 25% + mancozeb 50% WS @ 3.5 g/kg of seed (T₂) recorded an higher increase in the yield to the extent of (36.00%) followed by T₃ (33.53%), T₁ (31.93%), T7 (24.52%) respectively over control and yield parameters these parameters where shown higher by seed treatment with carbendazim 25% + mancozeb 50% WS @ 3.5 g/kg of seed (T₂) with various parameter i.e., seed yield/plant (7.61 g), seed yield/ plot (1.02 kg) increase in yield was due to increase in  number of pods/plant (60.73), seed yield/plant (8.21 g), seed yield/plot (1.04 kg) this treatment was followed by (T₃) thiophanate methyl 45% + pyraclostrobin 5% FS @ 4 ml per kg of seeds where number of pods/plant (59.88). Increased in yield parameters  may be due to seed treatment which improves seed germination, uniform plant stand and exposure of these plants for proper harnessing of sunlight, photosynthesis and its translocation of food metabolites to different growing parts and leading to better vegetative growth resultung increased number of primary and secondary branches per plant which add together for production of more number of flowers, pods, seeds per pod and test weight of seed leading to higher seed yield per plant and per ha (Shinde and Hunje, 2020, Rasool et al., 2015). The results are in conformity with findings of Durga et al., (2013) in chickpea.
 



       
Seed treatment with carbendazim 25% + mancozeb 50% WS @ 3.5 g/kg of seed (Table 1) recorded higher number of primary branches (2.66), secondary branches (15.16), plant height (38.20), early days to 50% flowering (47.33) and early days to maturity (97.33) as compared to control. The seed treatment with carbendazim 25% + mancozeb 50% WS @ 3.5 g/kg of seed  which is a  contact and systematic fungicide which mainly helps in protection of seed. Chickpea seeds have very soft, delicate seed coat that are sensitive and prone to damage by both biotic and abiotic factors from invading and survival of wide range of fungal pathogens around rhizosphere throughout the crop period and provides a favorable condition by enhancing sufficient nutrient uptake from rhizosphere through better root system. Shinde et al., (2020). These results are in conformation with the findings of Anitha et al., (2013) in Soybean and Xalxo et al., (2007) in chickpea.
       
Seed treatment with fungicides and bioagents enhanced the seed quality parameters significantly as compared to control (Table 3). Seed treatment with carbendazim 25% + mancozeb 50% WS @ 3.5 g/kg of seed (T₂) showed higher seedling vigour index I (2612), seedling vigour index II (27935) due to higher in germination percentage (97.33%), root length (18.26 cm), shoot length (8.56 cm), seedling dry weight (287 mg), followed by (T₃) thiophanate methyl 45% + pyraclostrobin 5% FS @ 4 ml per kg of seeds is due to increased the rate of imbibitions. The fungicidal seed treatment  on the surface act as moisture attracting material and improve germination due to proper supply of water and nutrients and reflected by reducing the seed infection by pathogen and due to induction of photosynthesis and synthesis of a-amylase, protease and other hydrolytic enzymes which appear to induce the activity of gluconeogenic enzymes during early stage of seed germination cause lengthy seedling and also higher 100 seed weight directly correlated with the higher seedling (Rajendraprasadet al., 2021 and Biabani Katozi,  2011) and Lower electric conductivity was shown by seed treatment with carbendazim 25% + mancozeb 50% WS @ 3.5 g/kg of seed (T₂) with (0.722) and higher protein content (22%). The lower electrical conductivity was recorded in treated seeds over untreated seeds which may be due to fungicide that protects the seeds from storage pathogens and thus reduces the seed infection, cracks and aberrations of the seed coat and also the leaching of electrolytes. These results are in agreement with Maheshbabu and Ravi Hunje (2008) in soybean.
 

       
The data on seed treatment with carbendazim 25% + mancozeb 50% WS @ 3.5 g/kg of seed (T₂)  presented in Table 2 and showed significantly lesser disease incidence (8.90%) from rest of the treatment. The next best treatment was seed treatment with thiophanate methyl 45% + pyraclostrobin 5% FS @ 4 ml per kg of seeds T₃ recorded (10.48%) as compared to control. The T₈ recorded (28.66%) of disease incidence due to mixture of this fungicide in which mancozeb is contact action and preventive fungicide with multisite mode of action and it remains on seed surface in treated seeds. It is fungitoxic when exposed to air, converted into isothiocynate, which inactivates the sulphahydral group of enzymes in fungi, causing disturbance in fungal enzyme functioning. Where as carbendazim is systemic in action acts as preventive and curative. It also acts by disrupting the spindle formation during cell division in fungi. (Sharma et al., 2017).
       
The data on economics in chickpea seed production was significantly influenced by seed treatment are presented in Table 4. Significantly higher gross returns, net returns, B:C were recorded in the treatment with carbendazim 25% + mancozeb 50 % WS @ 3.5 g/kg of seed (T₂) (₹ 60,647, ₹ 37,964 and 2.67 respectively) followed by seed treatment with thiophanate methyl 45% + pyraclostrobin 5% FS @ 4 ml per kg of seeds (₹ 59,583, ₹ 36,491, 2.58). The gross returns are governed by higher seed yield fetching better price. Due to seed treatment with fungicides and biocontrol agent, superior seed yield was obtained.This resulted in higher gross returns and net returns there by increased benefit cost ratio as this  treatment and increases the grain yield by reducing the mycoflora infestation. Similar results were noticed  by Mohd et al., (2004).
 

It can be concluded that the seed treatment with carbendazim 25% + mancozeb 50% WS @ 3.5 g/kg of seeds have good effect on seed yield per ha, better seed quality, reduced diseases incidence and higher net return followed by T₃ thiophanatemethy l45% + pyraclostrobin 5% FS @ 4 ml/kg of seed compared to control.

None.