Relationship of bacterial leaf blight disease of cotton with different weather parameters under South Gujarat condition of India

Abstract

Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus Gossypium in the family Malvaceae. Bacterial blight of cotton, also know as angular leaf spot, boll rot, and black leg, is a potentially destructive bacterial disease of cotton production. The disease caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. malvacearum (Smith) Dye (synonyms Xanthomonas malvacearum (E.F. Sm) Dowson) is one of the most important and serious disease in cotton crop. Main objective of present research is to study the progress of the bacterial blight disease of cotton (BLB), caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. malvacearum (Smith) Dye, with relation to the environmental parameters. This is a common disease affecting the growth, development and yield of cotton. A field trial was conducted to determine the influence of environmental factors, viz. rainfall periods, temperature, sun shine hours and humidity on the development of disease. Bacterial blight disease was recorded with its appearance and subsequently at weekly interval till it prevailed on G. Cot. Hy.12 (Non Bt). The incidence of bacterial blight disease (BLB) was noticed during 28 to 49th standard week with the maximum disease intensity in third week of September (23.5% PDI). None of the abiotic factors had significant influence on bacterial blight disease progress and development.