Influence of Variety and Sowing Date on Incidence of Cercospora Leaf Spots Disease of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Makurdi, Benue State of Nigeria

Abstract

Leaf spots disease of groundnut caused by Cercospora pathogens is one of the major economic production constraints militating against groundnut production in Nigeria.  Field experiments were conducted during the 2011 and 2012 rainy seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi Nigeria to assess the effect of sowing dates on the incidence of Cercospora leaf spot of groundnut. The 2 x 4 x 3 factorial (2 groundnut varieties/ 4 sowing dates/ 3 replications) experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Results indicated no significant (P> 0.05) effect of Cercoscora leaf spot incidence on the two varieties in 2011 but in 2012 Ex-Dakar recorded significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher leaf spot incidence at 54 DAS and 61 DAS compared to Borno-Red variety. Sowing groundnut seeds from 14th June to 29th June recorded significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) leaf spot disease incidence compared with sowing groundnut seeds in May. Ex-Dakar variety recorded higher leaf defoliation compared with Borno-Red variety in 2011 and 2012 seasons. Results indicated that Borno-Red had significantly (P ≤ 0. 05) higher 100 seed weight in 2011, while Ex-Dakar recorded higher 100 seed weight in 2012. The results has proved that early sowing of groundnut in May can be employed as alternative strategy for the management of Cercospora leaf spot disease of groundnut in Makurdi, Nigeria.