Outbreak of Phytophthora Blight of Pigeonpea in the Deccan Plateau of India, 2005

Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra are the major pigeonpea-growing states in the Deccan Plateau (DP) of India. The area under pigeonpea in Andhra Pradesh is estimated to be around 0.42 million ha with a production of about 0.19 million tonnes, while in Karnataka it is grown on 0.49 million ha with a production of 0.26 million tonnes (Dharamraj et al. 2004). Of these three states, Maharashtra has the maximum area (1.02 million ha) with a production of about 0.77 million tonnes (http//:agricoop.nic.in/). Diseases such as wilt (Fusarium udum Butler) and sterility mosaic (SM Virus) are the important biotic factors limiting its production in the DP