Epidemiology of powdery mildew of cowpea in Konkan region of Maharashtra

Abstract

The knowledge of specific weather conditions congenial for development of powdery mildew disease of cowpea is important to adopt timely and need based management practices. The present investigation on relationship between weather variables and per cent disease intensity, in early sown and mid sown crop the weather parameters i.e., maximum and minimum temperatures, wind speed, bright sunshine hours, rate of evaporation and crop age were the predominant parameters contributing to the disease development While in case of late sown crop the weather parameters viz, maximum and minimum temperatures, morning and evening relative humidity, bright sunshine hours and crop age played a predominant role in disease development. Results present investigation showed that, maximum temperature (29 to 31 0C), minimum temperature (14 to 19 0C), relative humidity (55 to 95%), wind speed (3.2 to 4 Km/hr), evaporation (4.5-5.2 mm), sunshine hours (7.5 to 8.5) and crop age (45-55 days) were positively and highly significant in disease development.