Authors
W. J.
Swart
,
Department of Plant Pathology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
;
C.
Mathews
,
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Mpumalanga, South Africa
; and
K. B.
Saxena
,
ICRISAT, Patencheru, India
Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan [L.] Mills.) is an important legume with potential as a dryland crop with multiple uses in the semi-arid areas of South Africa. Approximately 150 tons of dry, split seeds are imported monthly to meet the needs of South Africa. In May 2000, field trials and farmer's plots with plant ages varying from 1 to 3 years old were visited in Mpumalanga and Kwazulu-Natal to assess problems associated with pigeonpea cultivation. Rust was prevalent on more than 80% of plants on young and old leaves at all sites but was most severe at sites in Mpumalanga, where severe rust was observed on all 17 ICRISAT varieties evaluated. Leaf lesions began as chlorotic flecks that expanded and developed into necrotic spots with several orange red to brown uredinia present mostly on the abaxial sides of leaves. Urediospores were 1-celled and initially hyaline, turning dark orange, minutely echinulate, spherical with 2 to 4 circular germpores and measured 20--27 × 17 to 21μ. No telia were found and all morphological characteristics therefore correspond with the CMI description of Uredo cajani Syd. (1). In Africa, pigeonpea rust has been reported from Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Uganda. In South Africa, rust, described as Uromyces dolicholi Arthur (2), has only once been reported on pigeonpea. In the United States, U. dolicholi has also once been reported on pigeonpea (3). However, since U. dolicholi, unlike U. cajani, produces telia and occurs only on Rhyncosia spp. (4), these reports can be considered incorrect. This is therefore the first report of U. cajani on pigeonpea in South Africa.
References: (1) K. H. Anahosur and J. M. Waller. 1978. No. 590: Descriptions of Plant Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria. Commonw. Mycol. Inst., Kew, England. (2) E. M. Doidge. Bothalia 5:1-1094, 1950. (3) D. F. Farr et al. 1989. Fungi on Plants and Plant Products in the United States. American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1989. (4) A. Sivanesan. 1970. No. 269: Descriptions of Plant Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria. Commonw. Mycol. Inst., Kew, England.
