Groundnut Crop: Tikka Disease and Its Management

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important oilseed crop in India that occupies the first position in terms of area and second in terms of production. Gujarat is the largest producer of groundnuts in the country. Moreover, the crop is grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons.

Tikka Disease of Groundnut

Tikka disease is a disease caused by a pathogenic fungus, Cercospora personata. The disease mainly affects groundnut crops all across the world. The groundnut leaf spots (early leaf spot and late leaf spot) commonly called “Tikka” disease cause nearly complete defoliation and yield loss up to 50 % or more depending upon disease severity.

Symptoms of Tikka disease

The leaf spot disease epidemics are affected by weather parameters such as Temperature and relative humidity. Initial signs of late leaf spots can be noticed in 45–50 days after sowing the groundnut crop in the field.

The disease affects every portion of the host plant that is above the soil line. The first symptoms appear on the leaflets of lower leaves as a dark spot, which eventually develops into yellow rings around them. The spots are circular. On the leaves, they may be seen in large numbers. Particularly on the top surface of the leaflets, mature spots are dark-brown to almost black.

Disease cycle

The infection initially originates with the fungus spread by plant debris or through the seed. During the initial stages, the infection mostly occurs on the older leaves near the ground level and secondary infection is Spread by wind, rain, and insects.

Management of Tikka Disease

• The severity of the disease might be reduced by taking hygienic care, such as removing the infected plant debris.

• Grow resistant varieties like T-64, C-501, MH-4, TMV-6, and TMV-10.

• Before Planting Seed should be Treated with asafoetida solution.

• Intercrop groundnut with green gram (Vigna radiata) in the ratio of 4:1.

• Keep Weed Under Control

• Carbendazim (0.1 percent) is found to be the best fungicide to control the tikka disease of groundnut and the second-best fungicide is tebuconazole (0.1 percent)