Prevention and control of yellow mosaic disease of mungbean by application of aqueous root extract of Boerhaavia diffusa

Abstract

The destructive yellow mosaic disease of mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) was prevented under natural field condition, by clarified aqueous root extract of Boerhaavia diffusa. Treatments were administered weekly, as foliar sprays, at a concentration of 10%, commencing from the seedling stage. Six sprays of B. diffusa root extract were found most effective and considerably delayed symptom appearance, suppressed symptom severity and decreased disease incidence by 80-90%, besides increased nodulation in roots, plant height, primary and secondary branches, pod formation and grain yield. The root extract could be used as possible prophylactic agent against the mungbean yellow mosaic disease in highly susceptible local mungbean varies to avert the severe yield loss.