Current Knowledge on Pathogenicity and Management of Stemphylium botryosum in Lentils (Lens culinaris ssp. culinaris Medik)

Abstract

Stemphylium blight (SB) caused by Ascomycete, Stemphylium botryosum Wallr. has been a serious threat to lentil cultivation, mainly in Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and Canada since its first outbreak in Bangladesh in 1986. The genus Stemphylium Wallr., a dematiaceous hyphomycete, comprises up to 150 species, and is pathogenic on a wide range of plants infecting leguminous as well as nonleguminous crops. In recent years, studies indicated overlapping in morphological characters among the different species under the genus Stemphylium, making the identification and description of species difficult. This necessitates different molecular phylogenetic analysis in species delimitation. Therefore, a detailed understanding of spatial diversity and population structure of the pathogen is pertinent for producing source material for resistance breeding. The role of different weather variables as predisposing factors for the rapid spread of the pathogen necessitates devising a disease predictive model for the judicial application of fungicides. A dearth of information regarding spore biology, epidemiology, race diversity, host-pathogen interaction, and holistic disease management approach necessitates immediate attention towards more intensive research efforts. This is the first comprehensive review on the current state of knowledge and research efforts being made for a better understanding of the SB resistance through cognizing biology, ecology, and epidemiology of S. botryosum and effective disease management strategies to prevent widespread outbreaks of SB. The information regarding the biology and epidemiology of S. botryosum is also crucial for strengthening the “Integrated Disease Management” (IDM) programme. The need for a regional research network is advocated where the disease is becoming endemic.

Genetic diversity of Ralstonia solanacearum causing vascular bacterial wilt under different agro-climatic regions of West Bengal, India

“…However, application of this theory in agriculture has been very limited. Das and colleagues has reviewed the worldwide structure of various species of Stemphylium through the application of percolation theory and identified relationship among various species [ 52 ].…”

Characterization of Stemphylium spp. associated with tomato foliar diseases in Algeria

“…Stemphylium and Alternaria spp. have been previously reported to simultaneously infect cultivated crops (Falloon et al, 1987;Hahuly et al, 2018;Das et al, 2019).…”

Current Insights on Stemphylium Blight of Lentil with its Management Strategies

“…From the investigation of Podder et al (2013), L. culinaris was reported to have high susceptibility and high resistance was found in L. lamottei and L. ervoides among the seven species of Lens. Thicker cuticular and epidermal cell walls, fewer stomata, and a greater amount of epidermal hairs serve as a mechanical shield for pathogens to penetrate by hyphae (Das et al, 2019). The pathogen reaches the host by the means of stomata and form bulging mycelium below the stomata which can be influenced by relative pathogen virulence and environment (Cowling and Gilchrist, 1982).…”

“…Few written literatures are available about the cultural methods to control the SB of lentil. Nonhost crop rotation, destruction of old crop residues, field sanitation, modification of the seeding time, and physical or chemical treatment of the seed can be the best strategies to reduce disease inoculum (Taylor et al, 2007;Das et al, 2019). From the study of Alam et al (2017b), the highest occurrence of disease (72.50%) was reported from plants grown from October 25 sowing which was statistically equivalent to Nov 1 (63.5%), Nov 15 (62.17%) and Nov 22 (62.17%).…”

“…So far, the understanding of this disease is missing and very few studies have been carried out on the identification of different species of Stemphylium, epidemiology of the pathogens, factors influencing disease growth, host-pathogen interaction, mechanisms of resistance, and population racial composition. Very few researches are published concerning various aspects of Stemphylium blight of lentil (Das et al, 2019). Therefore, this article reviews the existing understanding of its economic importance, geographical distribution, etiology, epidemiology, variability, symptomology, disease management strategy alongside the future outlook on the possible activities related to Stemphylium blight of lentil.…”