First Report of Powdery Mildew Diseases on Field Pea (P. Sativum Linn) in Northern Guinea Savannah of Nigeria.

Abstract

Pisum sativum (field pea) belongs to the family Fabaceae. It is one of the six major pulse crops cultivated globally and is second highest yielding legume. A survey was conducted in Northern guinea savanna of Nigeria to identify the causative fungi of powdery mildew diseases on field pea. Temporay slides were prepared in the field by placing a clear tape on the infected part of the plant sticky side down and the tape was placed on a drop of distilled water/lactophenol cotton blue on a slide then observed under the microscope. The size and shape of the conidia and conidiophore were recorded. Samples were then sent to the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux International (CABI), UK for confirmation of the identification for the fungi inducing the diseases. Results obtained from CABI showed that four different species of Erysiphe i.e. E. pisi, E. brunneopunctata. E. cruciferarum and E. cichoracearum were responsible for the powdery mildew diseases observed on P. sativum in the study areas. As an exotic plant, the fungi might have come along with the seeds into the country, as Erysiphe spp. is seed borne or other reservoir hosts of the fungi might have occurred in the wild. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the four species of Erysiphe inducing powdery mildew diseases of field pea in Nigeria.