The Effect Of Various Meteorological Parameters On The Sesamum Phyllody Disease

The climate influences the incidence as well as temporal and spatial distribution of plant diseases. The climate change affects the survival, vigor, rate of multiplication, sporulation, direction, and distance of dispersal of inoculums, rate of spore germination and penetration of pathogens. The environmental change, especially when combined with pathogen and host introductions, may result in unprecedented effects. This in turn affects the agricultural production. Hence proper studies followed by convenient measures could be taken knowing the favorable climate for disease occurrence.

The ‘Queen of Oilseeds’, sesamum, is a very important oilseed crop as it contains high quality oil and protein along with some antioxidants such as sesamin, sesamol and sesamoline. The cultivated species of sesamum i.e., Sesamum indicum L. has its origin in India. The oil of sesamum is resistance to oxidation and rancidity even when it is stored at ambient air temperature. Sesamum is mainly grown in many tropical and sub-tropical countries. Unlike the other sesamum growing states of India where it is mainly grown for oil extraction, in Assam most of produce is used for making various confectioneries during festivals and other social and religious functions.

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Sesamum also possesses many medicinal values and helps in promoting bone health, lowering blood pressure, preventing headache and migraine, reducing stress, preventing diabetes, promoting heart health, boosting oral health, promoting healthy skin and hair, preventing cancer, etc.

Phyllody is the most important among all the economically important diseases of sesamum. This disease is caused by phytoplasma which takes a heavy toll resulting in significant yield losses.

The disease has been named “Green flowering disease” as the symptoms developed are mostly transformation of flowers to green sterile structures. Phytoplasmas are specialised bacteria without cell wall and are found in sieve elements of plants and some insect vector. They are obligate parasites. They are transmitted from one plant to another by phloem-feeding insects, leafhopper, plant hoppers and psyllids. Doi et al. was the first to describe the phytoplasmas as plant pathogens. This disease is transmitted by leafhoppers mostly by Orosius albicinctus as reported from various parts of the world. Recently some new vectors such as Hishimonus phycitis have been reported from India. Molecular characterization of sesamum phyllody phytoplasma has been done in different countries and reported as member of three different phytoplasma groups.

Sesamum is an important crop and sesamum phyllody being a destructive disease, it is very important to know the interaction of the leafhopper vectors and the meteorological parameters with the disease incidence. Hence this study will also help in taking up management practices by understanding the severity of the disease during a particular season.