Soumaila Sanogo and Naveen Puppala. New Mexico State Univ, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003
In the US, peanut
cultivation is constrained by numerous foliar and root diseases. In New Mexico, root diseases caused by various
soilborne fungal pathogens are the primary production concerns. Previous
research has shown that soilborne fungal diseases reduce yields and the
marketability value of peanut pods. Application of fungicides is the widely
adopted management scheme for controlling soilborne diseases in order to
maintain profitability of production. This management scheme may lead to
several negative outcomes such as environmental degradation, fungicide
contamination of harvested pods, and development of resistant populations of
soilborne pathogens. This research aims at providing peanut producers with
viable alternatives that are economically and ecologically sound using
microbial and organic inputs which have activity against soilborne pathogens. Peanut
pod discoloration was reduced by 12 to more than 60% with seed treatment with a
streptomyces-based inoculant and furrow treatment with a capsaicin-based
organic extract. Peanut grade was unaffected by any of the treatments compared
to control. A yield increase of about 15% was recorded when seeds were treated
with the microbial inoculant. Results suggest that microbial and organic inputs
have potential in increasing yield and quality of peanut in production
environment in which soilborne diseases are of a concern.
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