Effect of soil temperature at different depths of soil on incidence of wilt in selected lentil genotypes

Abstract

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) is one of the oldest domesticated legumes and plays a crucial role in global food systems, particularly in countries like India, which is a major producer. Lentil is grown as a Rabi crop in India, thriving in semi-arid environments and contributing to soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. However, lentil production is significantly threatened by various diseases, with Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lentis being the most prominent and destructive soil-borne disease. This study investigates the effect of soil temperature at different depths (5 cm, 10 cm, and 20 cm) on the incidence of Fusarium wilt in threes susceptible lentil genotypes: L 9-12, Sehore 74-3, and DPL-62. The results show a significant positive correlation between soil temperature and wilt incidence at 10 cm and 20 cm depths for all genotypes, with stronger correlations observed in deeper soil layers. The regression analysis reveals that an increase in soil temperature by 1 °C at 10 cm and 20 cm depths leads to a consistent rise in wilt incidence, particularly in the Sehore 74-3 and DPL-62 genotypes. This study underscores the critical role of soil temperature in the development of Fusarium wilt in lentil crops and provides valuable insights for managing the disease in lentil production systems.