Anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum dematium affected CO2 assimilation, thylakoid electron transport and other related photosynthetic traits in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea)

Abstract

Colletotrichum is one of the most important plant pathogen, causing economically important disease anthracnose in a wide range of hosts including cereals, legumes, vegetables, perennial crops and tree fruits. Anthracnose disease (caused by Colletotrichum dematium) of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) has become a serious problem in recent years in central India. The disease is characterized by leaf spotting resulting in ‘shot hole’ symptoms and finally defoliation, which affects the yield greatly. Infection of leaves directly hampered the photosynthetic machinery and intercellular mechanisms of the plant. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the severity of the disease and factors affecting under diseased conditions, which will help in devising suitable and effective management practices for proper yield. In India, research work on important aspects of the anthracnose disease of groundnut has not been done systematically. Information on crop photosynthetic traits under diseased conditions and related strategies to overcome yield loss is lacking. The purpose of this research was to understand the effects of anthracnose disease on some important photosynthetic traits such as rate of CO2 assimilation, thylakoid electron transport, water use efficiency and stomatal conductance etc.