DISEASES

DISEASES

The most common groundnut diseases are Groundnut Rosette Disease (GRD), Early Leaf Spot (ELS), Late Leaf Spot (LLS) and Rust.

Ground Rosette Disease

• Viral disease transmitted by aphids and whiteflies

• Can cause yield loss up to 100%.

Signs and symptoms

Control

• Plant early at optimum populations

• Field hygiene

• Removing and destroying all volunteer plants

• Using tolerant varieties to GRD such as Nsinjiro (medium duration) and Baka (short duration).

Rosette

Early leaf spot

Fungal disease affects/infects crop soon after emergence; characterized by sub-circular and dark brown lesions (spots) on leaves, petioles, stems, and pegs; can cause yield loss of up to 50%.

Control

• General field hygiene

• Removing /burying infected crop residues and volunteer plants

• Early sowing

• Crop rotation.

Early leaf spot

Late Leaf spot disease

Fungal disease, recognizable by larger, circular black spots and can cause yield loss up to 50%.

Control

• General field hygiene

• Removing / burying infected crop residues and volunteer plants

• Crop rotation.

Late Leaf spot

Rust

It is fungal disease, usually occurring at the same time as late leaf spot. Characterized by orange coloured pustules (spots) on the lower leaf surface.

Control

• General field hygiene

• Removing and destroying infected stems and volunteer plants

• Sowing early.

Rust