Effect of Weed Infestation on the Severity of Phytophthora Blight of Pigeon Pea. V. B. Chauhan, Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, India. U. P. Singh, Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, India. Plant Dis. 75:1230-1232. Accepted for publication 14 September 1990. Copyright 1991 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-75-1230.

Twenty-six cultivars of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) were sown in soil infested with Phytophthora drechsleri f. sp. cajani to determine the effect of weed presence on the severity of Phytophthora blight. Most of the cultivars had high mortality in weeded plots, whereas disease intensity was significantly reduced in weed-infested plots. Apparently, a weed canopy reduced splash dispersal of P. drechsleri to aerial plant parts of pigeon pea plants.