Emergence of Choanephora Blight in Okra in Eastern India, Disease Severity, Etiology, and Fungicidal Management

Okra is an important vegetable crop extensively cultivated in India. During the months of July-October 2019 occurrence of Choanephora blossom blight has been documented first time at the research farm of IIHR-Central Horticultural Experimental Station, Bhubaneswar, as well as from farmers' fields and research plots of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha located in Eastern India. Subsequent survey to six major okra growing districts of Odisha revealed the incidence of up to 35.0 percent. Hence efforts were made to study the detailed symptomatology, and etiological factors. Choanephora cucrbitarum was identified as the causal agent based on morphological characteristics, molecular characterization as well as pathogenicity assay. In-vitro bio-efficacy of fungicides demonstrated the effectiveness of triazole group of fungicide against the test pathogen offering promising prospects for disease management in okra cultivation.