Viral disease outbreak and diagnosis in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under Tamil Nadu: A new report

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important legume crop in the world. In global wide, it was cultivated during rabi season (Nov-Feb). Under India, it was cultivated during cool winter season mostly depending upon rainfall and dew distribution. In Tamil Nadu, mostly north – western districts are considered as chickpea belt. Regularly crop period, wilt or root rot diseases are highly prevalent and drastically reduced yield. Since, Rabi (2017-18) a new disease was occurred and reported that causing yield loss (40-60%) from vegetative to podding stage by failure of seed formation on mostly in Coimbatore and Tirupur districts. Under extensive survey, a viral outbreak of incidence occurred due to chlorotic stunt disease, maximum recorded in Poolankinar (28.6%) on cv. CO 4 and the least incidence has been recorded in Kuppuchipalayam (12.9%) on cv. JAKI-9218 at age of 65 days old crop. Based on symptomatic diagnosis viz., chlorosis, reddening of leaf petioles, shortening internodes, bushy appearance was characterized initial stages and later failure attained in blooming and pod formation. This disease was the most prevalent in North India. Perusal of literature showed that the occurrence of this disease in Tamil Nadu seems to be new. Hence, this may be a new report based on the visual diagnosis.