Safflower: Diseases and Their Management

  34 ratings Safflower: Diseases and Symptoms Alternaria blight Cercospora leaf spot Powdery mildew Head rot and wilt Mosaic...

 

34 ratings

Safflower: Diseases and Symptoms

1. Alternaria blight
2. Cercospora leaf spot
3. Powdery mildew
4. Head rot and wilt
5. Mosaic
6. Ramularia leaf spot
7. Rust
8. Wilt
9. Root rot
10. IPM for Safflower

Alternaria blight

Disease symptoms

• It is the most destructive disease.
• Dark necrotic lesions 2-5 mm in diameter are formed first on hypocotyls and cotyledons.
• In mature plants, small brown to dark brown concentric spots of 1-2 mm appear on leaves.
• Symptoms also appear on stem and severely infected plant gets blighted.
• Brown discolouration appears on the stem, dark brown spots with concentric rings up to 1 cm in diameter appear on the leaves which later develop into large lesions.
• Seeds also may be affected. Dark sunken lesions are produced on the testa. It may rot and damping off of seedlings occur.

Survival and spread

• The disease is externally and internally seed borne. The pathogen survives through spores (conidia) or mycelium in diseased plant debris or weed.

Favourable conditions

• Moist (more than 70% relative humidity) and warm weather (12-25 ºC) and intermittent rains favours disease development.

Cercospora leaf spot

Disease symptoms

• Safflower plants few weeks after planting or at flowering stage are commonly attacked.
• Circular to irregular brown sunken spots of 3-10 mm diameter are formed on leaves.
• Spots are surrounded by yellow halos.
• Symptoms first appear on lower leaves and spread to upper leaves.
• Stems and nodes may also be affected.
• In severe infections bracts are also affected with reddish brown spots.
• Affected flower buds turn brown and die.

Survival and spread

• The fungus survives in seed and affected plant debris and spreads through wind borne spores.

Favourable conditions

• Warm humid weather favours the disease development.

Powdery mildew

Disease symptoms

• The disease is characterized by whitish powdery growth on leaves
• Later the fungus spreads over the entire leaf. Leaves turn yellow and dry up

Survival and spread

• The pathogen survives as oospores on the affected plant tissues and on weed hosts

Favourable conditions

• Cool (10-20ºC) and wet weather (90% RH) favours disease development

Head rot and wilt

Disease symptoms

• Plants become yellowish, turn brown and ultimately die
• Large black sclerotia of the fungus are formed on the crown inside the stem, floral heads and adjoining roots
• Shredding of the stem takes place

Mosaic

Disease symptoms

• In CMV infected safflower plants young leaves show irregular yellow or light patches alternating with normal green areas.
• Leaves may become blistered and distorted and infected plants are stunted.
• In few plants primary leaves are produced, forming a rosette of leaves exhibiting mosaic mottling and from the centre of this, the axis bearing secondary leaves are produced.

Transmission and favourable conditions

• The disease is transmitted in semi persistent manner by aphid Aphis gossypii.
• Aphids are more active in warm summer conditions and increased their population as well as spread the viruses more.

Ramularia leaf spot

Disease symptoms

• Round and irregular spots of 100 mm or more in diameter occur on both sides of leaves
• Whitish dense mass of conidia remain at the center which reflects light, dry spots are brown in color.

Rust

Disease symptoms

• Seedling infection causes twisting towards one side
• Chesnut brown postules are formed on hypocotyl leading to collapse of seedling
• On older plants girdling and hypertrophy of the stem base may occur
• Small powdery chesnut brown postules of 1-2 mm in size develop on leaf surface which later turn black.

Wilt

Disease symptoms

• Yellowing of leaves on one side of plant starts particularly from lower leaves followed by wilting the progresses upwards
• Lesion at soil line is first symptom noticed which extends inside and affects the vascular system
• Plant starts to wilt, drooping more often
• Infected heads have aborted seed.

Root rot

Disease symptoms

• Dark cortical lesions occur slightly below or at the soil level on the stem, which later extend upwards
• Lesions frequently girdle the stem
• Root development is reduced and finally seedlings die

 

IPM for Safflower

To know the IPM practices for Safflower, click here.

Source: NIPHM and Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage

 

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140 ratings

Safflower Pests

1. Pests of National Significance
1. Insect pests
2. Diseases
3. Weeds
1. Broadleaf
2. Grasses
3. Sedges
4. Parasitic plant
4. Pests of Regional Significance
1. Insect pests
5. IPM for Safflower

Pests of National Significance

Insect pests

• Gram pod borer/capsule borer: Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
• Safflower caterpillar: Perigaea capensis (Thunberg) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
• Safflower aphid: Uroleucon carthami (Theo) (Hemiptera Aphididae)
• Capsule fly/safflower bud fly: Acanthiophilus helianthi (Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Diseases

• Alternaria blight: Alternaria carthami S. Chowdhury
• Cercospora leaf spot: Cercospora carthami Sundaram & T.S. Ramakr
• Powdery mildew: Erysiphe cichoracearum DC.
• Mosaic: Cucucmber mosaic virus
• Head rot and wilt: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (L) de Bary
• Ramularia leaf spot: Ramularia carthami (Zaprometov)
• Rust: Puccinia carthami (Corda)
• Wilt: Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. carthami Klis. & Houston
• Root rot: Rhizoctonia bataticola Taubenn (Butler)

Weeds

Broadleaf

• Lamb’s quarter: Chenopodium album L. (Chenopodiaceae)
• Scarlet pimpernel: Anagallis arvensis L. (Primulaceae)
• Sweet clover: Melilotus indica (L.) All. (Fabaceae)
• Fine leaf fumitory: Fumaria parviflora Lam. (Fumariaceae)
• Corn spurry: Spergula arvensis L. (Caryophyllaceae)
• Onion weed: Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav. (Asphodelaceae)
• Common vetch: Vicia sativa L. (Fabaceae)
• Wild safflower: Carthmus oxycantha M. Bieb. (Asteraceae)
• Asthma herb: Euphorbia hirta L. (Euphorbiaceae)
• Wild poinsettia: Euphorbia zeniculata Ortega (Euphorbiaceae)
• Camel thorn: Alhagi maurorum Kedik. (Fabaceae)
• Field bindweed: Convolvulus arvensis L. (Convolvulaceae)

Grasses

• Blue grass: Poa annua L. (Poaceae)
• Canary grass: Phalaris minor Retz. (Poaceae)
• Bermuda grass: Cynadon dactylon (L.) (Poaceae)
• Annual beard grass/annul rabbits foot grass: Polypogon monspliensis (L.) Desf. (Poaceae)

Sedges

• Purple nutsedge: Cyperus rotundus L. (Cyperaceae)
• Flat sedge: Cyperus difformis L. (Cyperaceae)

Parasitic plant

• Broom rape: Orobanche aegyptiaca (Orobanchaceae)

Pests of Regional Significance

Insect pests

• Gujhia weevil: Tanymecus indicus Faust (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

IPM for Safflower

To know the IPM practices for Safflower, click here.

Source: NIPHM and Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage

 

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140 ratings

Safflower: Insect pests Management

1. Gram pod borer
2. Safflower caterpillar
3. Safflower fly/capsule bud fly
4. Safflower aphid
5. IPM for Safflower

Gram pod borer

Biology

It is a polyphagous pest, infesting gram, lablab, safflower, chillies, groundnut, tobacco, cotton etc.

• Egg: Spherical, yellowish eggs are laid singly on tender parts and buds of plants. The egg period lasts for 2-4 days.
• Larva: Caterpillars are of varying colour, initially brown and later turn greenish with darker broken lines along the side of the body. Body covered with radiating hairs. When full grown, they measure 3.7 to 5 cm in length. The larval period lasts for 18-25 days. The full grown caterpillar pupates in the soil.
• Pupa: Pupation takes place inside the soil in an earthen cell. Pupal stage lasts 7-15 days.
• Adult: Moth is stout, medium sized with brownish/greyish forewings with a dark cross band near outer margin and dark spots near costal margins, with a wing expanse of 3.7cm.

Damage symptoms

• In early stage of crop growth larvae feed on leaves and shoot apices.
• Later, the larvae shift to the developing capitula.
• The symptoms are perforated leaves, perforated involucral bracts, partially or completely eaten capitula in the bud stage and bored developing capitula.

Natural enemies of gram pod borer

• Parasitoids: Trichogramma spp., Tetrastichus spp., Telenomus spp., Chelonus spp., Microchelonus curvimaculatus, Enicospilus sp, Eriborus argenteopilosus, Bracon spp., Ichneumon spp., Carcelia illota, Palexorista solennis, Sturmiopsis inferens, Goniophthalmus halli, Campoletis chlorideae etc.
• Predators: Lacewing, ladybug beetle, reduviid bug, spider, red ant, robber fly, black drongo (King crow), common mynah, big-eyed bug (Geocoris sp), earwig, ground beetle, pentatomid bug (Eocanthecona furcellata), preying mantis etc.

Safflower caterpillar

The insect occurs throughout India. It is a regular pest of safflower

Biology

• Egg: The female lays an average of 345-371 green coloured eggs either singly or in clusters on the crop foliage. The incubation period varies from 4 to 5 days.
• Larva: The larval duration varies from 2-3 weeks.
• Pupa: The pest pupate in soil and it last about a week.
• Adult: The adult is a dark brown in colour, medium sized moth with pale wavy marks on forewings. Caterpillar is stout, green and smooth. The anal segment is humped and the body has some purple markings.

Damage symptoms

• The larva feeds on the leaves and sometimes on capitulum too.
• It also feeds on bracts, flowers, capsule Enormous yield losses of 62.6 to 100% have been encountered due to excessive foliage feeding by a large number of larvae.

Natural enemies of safflower caterpillar

• Parasitoids: Apanteles ruficrus, Rogas percurrens, Euplectrus euplexiae, Eriborus argenteopilosus, Pteromalus sp etc.
• Predators: Lacewing, ladybug beetle, reduviid bug, spider, red ant, robber fly, black drongo (King crow), common mynah, big-eyed bug (Geocoris sp), earwig, ground beetle, pentatomid bug (Eocanthecona furcellata), preying mantis etc.

Safflower fly/capsule bud fly

Biology

• Egg: Eggs are laid in clusters of 6 to 24 which hatch in a day.
• Pupa: Pupation takes place in flower buds.
• Adult: The adult flies are ash coloured with light brown legs.

The flies are active during March and infestation of flower buds takes place after a week.

Damage symptoms

• Newly hatched maggots feed on the soft parts (ovaries of florets and thalami of capitula) of capsules and later instars feed on the soft part within.
• The infested buds rot and give an offensive smelling fluid.

Natural enemies of safflower fly/capsule bud fly

• Parasitoids: Orymurus sp., Eurytoma sp, Bracon spp. etc.
• Predators: Lacewing, ladybug beetle, reduviid bug, spider, red ant, robber fly, black drongo (King crow), common mynah, big-eyed bug (Geocoris sp), earwig, ground beetle, pentatomid bug (Eocanthecona furcellata), preying mantis etc.

Safflower aphid

Both nymphs and adults when on stem are found with their head directed towards the soil. Alate and apterous forms are commonly seen an aphid colony. The alates are found in the beginning of the season (November- December) and again towards the maturity of the crop, while apterous forms are abundantly found between the two extremes mentioned above.

Biology

An asexual-viviparous mode of reproduction is reported in this aphid species.

• Nymph: Nymphs are reddish brown. Nymphal stage with four instars lasted in an average of 9.34 days.
• Adult: Aphids are soft bodied insects and 1.5 to 2 mm in length. Adults are large sized, black with pear-shaped body and conspicuous cornicles, winged or wingless. An average fecundity of 89 off springs per female has been reported. Adult longevity, pre-reproductive and reproductive periods last for 14.9, 1.28 and 14.6 days, respectively.

Damage symptoms

• During pre-flowering stage both nymphs and adults suck the cell sap from shoot apices, peduncles, leaves and stem, secrete a honey dew like secretion on upper surface of the leaves and plant parts forming a black sooty mold which hinders photosynthetic activity resulting in stunted growth.
• Finally the plants dry up.
• Honey dew excreted gets deposited on the upper surface of the leaves, on which sooty molds grow and hinder the photosynthesis, resulting in stunted growth and poor yields.
• In case of heavy infestation the plants dry and die. Infestation may start even when the crop is 15 days old.
• About 40-50% yield losses are observed due to this insect.
• Infestation may occur 30-45 days old crop.

Natural enemies of safflower aphid

• Parasitoids: Aphelinus sp, Aphidencyrtus aphidivorus, Pseudendaphis sp
• Predators: Lacewing, ladybug beetles (Coccinella arcuta, Micromus cinearis, Ischiodon scutellaris, Harmonia octomacuiata, Coccinella repanda), reduviid bug, spider, red ant, robber fly, hover fly, big-eyed bug (Geocoris sp), earwig, ground beetle, pentatomid bug (Eocanthecona furcellata), preying mantis etc.

IPM for Safflower

To know the IPM practices for Safflower, click here.

Source: NIPHM and Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage

 

3.07   

 

119 ratings

Safflower: Crop Stage-wise IPM

1. Pre-sowing*
2. Seed sowing*
3. Vegetative stage
4. Reproductive stage

Management	Activity
Pre-sowing*
	Common cultural practices: • Deep summer ploughing to control juveniles and adults of nematodes, and resting stages of insect pests. • Follow crop rotation with non-host crops • Destroy the alternate host plants • Sow the ecological engineering plants • Sow sorghum/maize/bajra in 4 rows all around the main crop as a guard/barrier crop
Nutrients	• Nutrients should be applied based on the soil test report and recommendations for the particular agro-climatic zone. • In preceding kharif season, grow soybean/ mungbean/ cowpea etc. pulse crops. • Generally, safflower crop remove 25 – 30 Kg N, 12-15 Kg P2O5, 15-20 Kg K2O and 10- 15 Kg S per acre. • Add well decomposed FYM @ 4 t/ acre or vermicompost @ 2 t/ acre treated with Trichoderma spp. and VAM. • Incorporate treated FYM at the time of field preparation at 2 to 3 weeks before sowing and vermicompost at 1 week before sowing. • Application of sulphur @ 6-18 Kg/acre significantly increases yield
Weeds	• Summer deep ploughing • In kharif fallow fields, check the weed growth by harrowing during monsoon rains. • At the time of field preparation, adopt stale seed bed technique to minimize the weeds menace in the field
Seed sowing*
Nutrients	Common cultural practices: • Use resistant/tolerant varieties • Use healthy, certified, weed seed free seeds • Timely sowing should be done. • Nitrogen is applied in two splits - ½ as basal and ½ at flowering. • At the time of sowing, apply 15-20 Kg N and 12-15 Kg P2O5, 12-15 Kg K2O and 10-15 Kg S/ acre. • Under rainfed conditions, entire fertilizers are applied by drilling at sowing. • Under irrigated conditions, ½ N and whole P, K & S fertilizers are applied at sowing. • Based on soil test for micronutrient, the deficient micronutrient should be applied in soil at sowing. • Biofertilizers: Seed/seedling treatment with Azotobacter and phosphorous solubilizing bacteria (PSB) cultures @ 250 g each /acre seed.
Weeds	• Adopt the recommended agronomic practices such as timely sowing, line sowing, proper spacing, gap filling etc. • Intercropping with chick pea/wheat/linseed/coriander may be adopted for better utilization of inter row space and suppressing the weeds as per regional recommended agronomic practices.
Vegetative stage
	Common cultural practices: • Field sanitation and rogueing • Judicious use of fertilizers • Collect and destroy crop debris • Provide irrigation at critical stages of the crop • Avoid water logging • Enhance parasitic activity by avoiding chemical spray, when 1-2 larval parasitoids are observed Common mechanical practices: • Collect and destroy disease infected and insect infested plant parts • Collection and destruction of eggs and early stage larvae • Handpick the older larvae during early stages of the crop • Handpick the gregarious caterpillars and the cocoons which are found on stem and destroy them in kerosene mixed water • Use yellow sticky traps @ 4-5 trap/acre • Use light trap @ 1/acre and operate between 6 pm and 10 pm • Install pheromone traps @ 4-5/acre for monitoring adult moths activity (replace the lures with fresh lures after every 2-3 weeks) • Erect bird perches @ 20/acre for encouraging predatory birds such as King crow, common mynah etc. • Set up bonfire during evening hours at 7-8 pm Common biological practices: • Conserve natural enemies through ecological engineering • Augmentative release of natural enemies • Apply second dose (top dressing) of N i.e. 15-20 Kg N/ acre at 35 days after sowing • Micronutrient deficiency should be corrected by foliar spray of particular micronutrient i.e. foliar application of zinc 3 ppm + copper 1 ppm + boron 0.5 ppm
Weeds	• Use the black plastic mulch to suppress the weeds germination and growth between the rows. • Practice one or two had tool weeding/hoeing at 25 to 30 and 45 to 50 days after sowing depending on the length of rosette period and the severity of weed infestation.
Gram pod borer/capsule borer	Cultural control: • Growing intercrops such as cowpea, onion, maize, coriander, urd bean etc. • Rotate the safflower crop with a non-host cereal crop such as wheat or barley, cucurbit, or cruciferous vegetable • Grow repellant plants: Ocimum/Basil • Plant ovipositional trap crops such as marigold for Helicoverpa • Intercropping with non-host crop like wheat or barley • Avoid chickpea as intercrop Biological control: • Inundatively release Trichogramma pretiosum @ 40,000/acre 4-5 times from flower initiation stage at weekly intervals • Application of NPV @ 100 LE/acre in combination with jaggery 1 Kg, sandovit 100 ml or Robin Blue 50 g thrice at 10-15 days interval on observing the eggs or first instar larvae in the evening hours • Apply entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) @ 100 crore infective juveniles of Steinernema feltiae/acre
Safflower caterpillar	Cultural control: • Intercropping with non-host crop such as wheat • Follow common cultural, mechanical and biological practices
Safflower bud fly	• Follow common cultural, mechanical and biological practices
Safflower aphid	Cultural control: • If the attack is observed in the border rows take control measures • Intercultural operations such as harrowing and hoeing reduce weeds such as Parthenium hysterophorus in safflower field which serve as alternate hosts for safflower aphids • Intercropping with sorghum, wheat and coriander reduces aphid infestation • Intercropping with niger should be avoided Biological control: • Release of Chrysoperla larva @ 2-3/plant or 70,000/acre • Spray neem oil emulsion @ 0.25% • Spray NSKE 4% Chemical control: • Spray acephate 75% SP @ 312 ml in 200-400 l of water/acre or dimethoate 30% EC @ 264 ml in 200-400 l of water/acre or phenthoate 2% DP @ 8,000 g/acre or quinalphos 1.5% DP @ 8,000 g/acre
Alternaria leaf blight	• Follow common cultural, mechanical and biological practices Cultural control: • Avoid growing in low-lying and flooding areas • Do not delay irrigation until the crop exhibits moisture stress symptoms
Cercospora leaf spot	• Follow common cultural, mechanical and biological practices Cultural control: • Avoid growing in low-lying and flooding areas • Avoid continuous cropping/follow crop rotation
Powdery mildew	• Follow common cultural, mechanical and biological practices Cultural control: • Do not plant spineless genotypes (more susceptible)
Rust	• Follow common cultural, mechanical and biological practices Cultural control: • Avoid growing in low-lying areas and flooding under irrigation • Do not delay irrigation until the crop exhibits moisture stress symptoms
Ramularia leaf spot, root rot and wilt	• Follow common cultural, mechanical and biological practices Cultural control: • Same as rust disease
Reproductive stage
Nutrients	• Under rainfed conditions, spray cycocel @ 500 ppm using 200 l per acre water at flower initiation to get higher seed yields
Weeds	• Left over weeds should be removed from the field by manual weeding before they flowering or shedding their seeds to avoid further spread of weed seeds
Insects and diseases	• Same as in vegetative stage • Follow common cultural, mechanical and biological practices
Head rot and wilt	• Follow common cultural, mechanical and biological practices Cultural control: • Don’t pileup the soil around the stem during rains • Follow crop rotation in heavily infested soils
Bird damage	Cultural control: • Cultivate safflower in large contiguous blocks • Safeguard the crop through bird scaring objects
Note: The pesticide dosages and spray fluid volumes are based on high volume sprayer. *Apply Trichoderma viride/harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens as seed/seedlings/planting material, nursery treatment and soil application (if commercial products are used, check for label claim. However, biopesticides produced by farmers for own consumption in their fields, registration is not required).

Source: NIPHM and Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage

 

3.04   

 

169 ratings

Safflower: Natural Enemies

1. Natural Enemies of Safflower Insect Pests
1. Parasitoids
2. Predators
2. IPM for Safflower

Natural Enemies of Safflower Insect Pests

Parasitoids

Predators

IPM for Safflower

To know the IPM practices for Safflower, click here.

Source: NIPHM and Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage