Working from the Ground up

As an important oil seed crop, groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea) provide high quality oil and food for humans and livestock respectively. In India, low yield of this crop has been linked to non-availability of improved cultivars and proper production technologies, and to foliar diseases such as late leaf spot (Phaeoisariopsis personata) and rust (Puccinia arachidicola) especially in areas such as the Deccan plateau. The plateau is greatly affected by diseases, as it is covered with the susceptible cultivar TMV-2. These diseases are highly destructive and cause more than 70% of the losses in yield and quality. Considering the limitation in the production of groundnuts, ICRISAT has emerged with an early maturing dual-purpose cultivar, ICGV 91114..........