Survey of Common Fungal Diseases in Vegetable Crop Plants from Parbhani (M.S.) India

Abstract

Vegetables are essential components of the human diet, providing vital vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibres necessary for good health. Although India is the second-largest global producer of vegetables, plant diseases significantly threaten agricultural productivity, causing annual harvest losses of up to 40–60%. To evaluate the prevalent pathogens affecting local agriculture, a comprehensive field and laboratory survey of vegetable crops was undertaken in the Parbhani region of Marathwada, Maharashtra. Symptomatic plant tissues were systematically collected from various farms and markets, surface-sterilised using 0.1% mercuric chloride, and cultured on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). The isolated pathogens were identified using morphological traits via compound microscopy and validated through host-specific pathogenicity tests. The survey successfully isolated and identified ten distinct pathogens responsible for significant qualitative and quantitative damage across diverse vegetable varieties. Major fungal threats identified included Colletotrichum species (Anthracnose), Sclerotium rolfsii (Sclerotium rots), and Fusarium oxysporum (Fusarium wilts), as well as the devastating Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (YVMV) affecting okra. The findings underscore the critical impact of these diseases during both active crop growth and post-harvest storage. To mitigate these economic losses for regional farmers, the study emphasises the urgent need for routine surveillance, the adoption of certified disease-free seeds, and the timely deployment of integrated crop protection strategies.