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Lucerne diseases: A review on status, symptomatology and integrated

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Preprint · August 2020

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.32473.54882

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 Lucerne diseases: A review on status, symptomatology and integrated management

R.P. Singh1, A.P. Dwivedi2, Durga Prasad3, Mamta Singh4, A.K. Singh5, RK Singh6, K.K.
Singh7 and S.P. Singh8
1
Senior Scientist & Head, MGKVK, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
2&7
Principal Scientist (Agronomy), Division of Crop Production, ICAR-IISR, Lucknow, U.P.
3
Assistant Professor-Plant Pathology, BUAT, Banda, Uttar Pradesh
4
Scientist-Plant Breeding and Genetics, KVK, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh
5
SMS-Agronomy, MGKVK, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
6
SMS-Agriculture Extension, MGKVK, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
8
Principal Scientist (Plant Physiology), Division of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry,
ICAR-IISR, Lucknow, U.P.

*Corresponding Author Email: rpskvk.22@gmail.com

Abstract

Lucerne is a very palatable and productive herbaceous, perennial, deep-rooted legume that
produces high quality feed from spring through to autumn. It is mainly used to make hay and
silage, but can also be used for grazing purposes, because of its high forage yield, nutritional
quality and wide adaptability to diversified climates and soil types. It is susceptible to a range
of fungal (anthracnose, root rot, damping off, wilt, downy mildew, powdery mildew, rust and
leaf spot), bacterial (leaf spot, blight, wilt and crown gall), viral (alfalfa mosaic virus, alfalfa
enation virus and transient streak virus), phytoplasmal diseases (aster yellows, little leaf and
witches’ broom), parasitic nematodes (root-knot, dagger, stem and lesion nematode) and
parasitic higher plant (dodder) at different crop growth stages that are hamper crop
establishment, impair forage quality and reduce green fodder and seed yield. Some diseases
also causing indirect losses like reduced nodule formation in the crop resulting in the
reduction of nitrogen fixation capacity. The occurrence and severity of the disease depends
on environmental conditions, soil type and crop management. A number of control measures
comprising eco-friendly and chemical approaches are used for management of diseases of
Lucerne. However, chemical measures are mostly applied for managing the diseases and it
induce resistance in pathogens and cause environmental hazards also. The purpose of this
paper is to review the status of major diseases with their causing agent, disease development,
peculiar symptoms and its management that are common in lifespan of the stand.

Key words: Lucerne diseases, Causative agents, Symptoms, Disease management

Introduction

Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), 2n=4x=32, also called ‘alfalfa’, belonging to the family
Fabaceae, is one of the oldest cultivated fodder crops, native to south west Asia and is
considered to be one of the first known herbs to mankind. It is commonly called as ‘rijka’ in
northern India. The word alfalfa is derived from Arabic, specifically the phrase al-fac-facah,
which literally means “father of all foods” because of it,s rich essential vitamins (vitamin A,
D, E, K, and full family of B vitamins), minerals (biotin, calcium, folic acid, iron,
magnesium, potassium) and many others nutrients as well as being very high in protein,
especially when dried. It is the most important forage legume grown in different parts of the
world and is also referred to as “queen of forage” because of its high quality of protein (> 15
%) and its digestibility (72%), the lower cell wall content and low in neutral detergent fibre
(Conard and Klopfenstein, 1988). The crop is leguminous in nature which makes the better
soil structure, improve soil fertility and its biodiversity. It has extensive deep root system
which is well suitable to dry conditions or less rainfall areas (Summer, 1998) with low input
of nitrogen fertilizer. Being the deep-rooted crop, it utilizes the natural resources especially
water and nutrients from deeper layer of the soil where the roots of other crops like cereals do
not reach. This quality makes this crop an ideal component of sustainable cropping system
under the present conditions of the climate change scenario where the raising water table, soil
salinity (Cocks, 2001; Latta et al., 2001) and declining productivity becomes the major
problems in many countries. Although, Lucerne is originated from temperate region but it can
be raised successfully in most of the countries of tropical and subtropical regions. In India,
Lucerne is mostly grown in irrigated areas of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan,
Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and in Leh region of Laddakh. It is generally grown
during rabi season as an important fodder crop, in areas where water supply is inadequate. It
supplies green fodder for feeding to livestock from November to June. Lucerne is mainly
used to make hay and silage, but can also be used for grazing purposes, because of its high
fodder yield, quality and wide adaptability to diversified climates and soil types

Diseases of Lucerne
Lucerne is susceptible and affected by a wide range of fungal, bacterial, viral, phytoplasmal
parasitic nematode and parasitic higher plant (table 1) and significant forage yield loss caused
by foliar pathogen of alfalfa (Rizvi and Nutter, 1993; Suryanarayana et al., 1996; Nutter et
al., 2002; Pilkington et al., 2002; Naseri and Marefat, 2008). The major diseases are seed rot,
seedling blight, root rot, damping off, anthracnose, rust, leaf spot, wilt, crown gall, mosaic,
Lucerne transient virus streak, little leaf, yellows and they cause the loss of vigour and reduce
both the hay quality and yield (Simay, 1991 and Billar, 1989, Raza, et al., 2017). Of these,
some diseases also causing indirect losses like reduced nodule formation in the crop resulting
in the reduction of nitrogen fixation capacity. The important fungal, bacterial and virus
causing severe diseases have been described in details as follows.
Fungal Pathogens
Seed rot, damping off and seedling blights
Causative agent and disease development
These diseases are caused by soil borne fungi, primarily in the genera Pythium, Rhizoctonia,
Fusarium, Phytophthora, Phoma (Ascochyta), Mycoleptodiscus and Sclerotinia (Frosheiser,
1980; Hansen and Maxwell 1991; Havey and Grau, 1985). Pythium is probably most
common cause (Altier and Thies, 1995; Larkin et al., 1995) of these diseases. Some
organisms (species of Pythium, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia and Phytophthora) are soil inhabitants
and persist in and on plant residues as oospores and sporangia (Pythium, Phytophthora)
(Basu, 1983), dark sclerotia (Rhizoctonia, Sclerotinia), chlamydospores and mycelium
(Fusarium) for two or more years without any suitable host plant. Other fungi (Phoma and
Mycoleptodiscus) invade the soil and survive in crop till it decayed. The optimal soil
conditions at which Pythium, Phytophthora can infect readily are very wet to saturated soil
conditions having soil temperature 50-600F and 60-700F), respectively. Whereas, Rhizoctonia
prefers moist but not saturated soils and its activity occurred most in warm soils (>750F). The
pathogens belonging to class Oomycetes are favored by cool and moist weathers and they
destroy seeds before germination or kills seedlings after emergence.

Symptoms
Seed may decay or seedlings may become blighted and be killed before they emergence with
pre-emergence damping off whereas with post-emergence damping off, infection commonly
occurs as the seedling emerges and the disease develops slowly afterward the seedlings
emerge only to wilt, collapse, dry up and die from a rot at the soil line and below. Young
roots and stems decay, causing varying degree of stunting but the infected plants survive at
the early seedling stage. Later, some plants may turn yellow, wither and while the remainder
recover.

Disease Management

An integrated disease management programme comprising cultural, host resistance,

biological and chemical measures, needs to be implemented for best control of the disease.
Crop rotation and quality seeds are important to minimize the presence of the seedling
diseases of alfalfa (Quagliotto et al., 2009, Morsy et al., 2011). Numerous cultivars have
good level of genetic resistant to the “damping off” seedling disease caused by Aphanomyces
eutiches and Phytophthora medicaginis available in many alfalfa varieties. The disease can
be effectively controlled by seed treatment of captan, thiram and metalaxyl and Trichoderma
sp. (Gossen, 1994; Herman and Bjorkman 1998; Spadaro and Gullino, 2005; Hwang et al.,
2006; Matroudi et al., 2009). Chen and Nelson (2008) reported suppressive properties
towards many different seed and root infecting pathogens and diseases. Protection of
seedlings can be obtained under experimental condition by seed treatment with biological
agent such as bacterium Bacillus cereus (Silo-suh et al., 1994; Handelsman et al., 1990).

Downy mildew
Causative agent and disease development
The causative agent of downy mildew disease is the fungus Peronospora trifoliorum (Syn.
Peronospora aestivalis) de Bary (Melchers et al., 1929). The pathogen survives with the
fallen leaves residing in the soil which serve as the source of primary infection. Fungus
spores on the undersides of the leaves are dispersed by air movement. This fungus occurs on
lucerne, white clover and red clover. It attacks during wet or humid weather, particularly in
spring (20-30oC temperatures and 85 per cent humidity). The fungus carries over in infected
crown buds and crown shoots.
Symptoms
Light green to yellow blotches appears on upper leaves. Shoot tips are often dwarfed and the
leaves twisted or rolled. A grayish cottony growth, the mycelium and fruiting structure of
fungus is often visible on the underside of the leaflets. At the later stages of the disease the
leaves of plants are dried and shed off leaving bare stems and branches (Leath et al., 1988).

Disease management
The cultural practices like deep summer ploughing, crop rotation, removal and burning of the
left plant debris are useful in avoiding early disease break out. Keeping pasture short or
cutting for hay will help to inhibit disease development by lowering humidity within the
stand and reducing the level of inoculum by way of reducing the infected material which may
otherwise act as a source of survival. Use of disease resistant cultivars and spraying of
cymoxanil @ 0.1% can effectively manage the disease. The most efficient mean to control
disease is growing of resistant cultivars. Investigations of alfalfa resistance to downy mildew
showed that material of different origin were considerably different by resistance to downy
mildew (Yaege and Stuteville, 2000).
Rust
Causative agent and disease development
Rust is caused by the fungus Uromyces striatus var. medicaginis J. Schroter [Syn. U. striatus
(Pass) Arth], which is an obligate parasitic and heteroceous in nature. The disease in severe
out breaks is capable of causing losses through defoliation and reducing the nutritive value
(Leyrona et al., 2004). Warm moist weather favours rust development on lucerne (Webb and
Nutter, 1997). Uromyces striatus spores and /or fungus carry over in live plant tissue to
initiate new infections. The disease is spread by wind and rain splash during favorable
condition. The survival of pathogen is through perennial lucerne plants because the uredial
stage of the fungus repeats several times.

Symptoms
The fungus produces characteristics rust pustules on the leaf blade, though often they may be
found on the petiole and stems. The reddish brown uredia and telia develop on the stem late
in the season. In severe infection the leaf may wither resulting into considerable damage to
the crops.

Disease management
Grazing and cutting or hay to reduce losses and humidity within the stand is well established
way of the disease management. This practice also removes rust inoculums from the
paddock. A range of resistance mechanisms is operative in Medicago truncatula accessions
against U. striatus (Kemen et.al., 2005). Samac and Foster-Hartnett (2012) found that
application of glycophosate at the recommended field application rate completely controlled
alfalfa rust (Uromyces striatus) on 4-week-old plants inoculated with the fungus 3 days after
glyphosate treatment.

Stemphylium leaf spot

Causative agent and disease developments
Stemphylium leaf spot caused by the fungus Stemphylium botryosum Wallr [Teleomorph:
Pleospora herbarum (Persoon) Fries, Rabenhorst.] is a common disease of Lucerne, clover,
lupin, broad bean & tomato; and it can cause defoliation in advance stage (Teuber et al.,
1982; Campbell and Duthie ,1990; Nutter et al., 2002). The fungus survives in un-
decomposed leaf tissue on the soil surface and dead stems and seeds also. Spores of this
fungus (conidia and ascospores) are spread by wind, rain splash and infected seeds.
Stemphylium leaf spot disease develops during prolonged periods of warm, wet weather in
the summer and fall season especially in dense stands.

Symptoms
Initial symptoms consisted of white to tan spots with a brown border, 2 to 3 mm in diameter,
circular to oval, enlarging to 5 to 8 mm in diameter. Large lesions often coalesced. . Small,
oval dark brown spots appear on the leaves, petioles, stems, peduncles and seed pods. Lower
killed leaves remained attached to the primary stem. The slightly sunken spots later enlarge
and often become zoned. They are light and dark brown often surrounded by a pale yellow
‘halo’. Infected leaves commonly turn yellow and fall prematurely (Samac and Willbur,
2014).

Disease management
Timely harvest and practicing of at least two years crop rotation without forage legumes is a
good strategy in management of this disease. Chemical control like application of
Chlorothalonil, cupric hydroxide and Mancozeb; and use of host resistance are the two major
means of controlling Stemphylium leaf spot in Lucerne (Willis et al., 1969; Wilcoxson and
Bielenberg, 1972; Campbell and Duthie, 1990). Some Pseudomonas bacterial strains
(Pseudomonas strain 679-2) have been found very effective in control of Stemphylium leaf
spot (Casida and Lukezic, 1992).

Common leaf spot

Causative agent and disease development
Common leaf spot caused by the fungus Pseudopeziza medicaginis (Libert) Saccardo, is a
common disease of lucerne, which does not cause mortality and rarely causes serious
economic losses (Stuteville and Erwin, 1990; Nutter et al., 2002). The disease is favoured by
warm, moist conditions. The causal fungus over winters as mycelium in fallen, undecayed
leaves and leaf fragments on the soil surface. Under moist conditions ascospores are ejected
from the fruiting bodies, crop debris and dispersed by wind and rain wind-blown over short
distances.

Symptoms
Small, circular, dark brown to black spots about 1-3 mm in diameter develop first on the
lower surface and inner leaves. In the thickened center of fully developed spots, a tiny, raised,
light brown, disk-shaped fungus fruiting body (apothecium) form on the upper leaf surface.
Infected leaves cup, turn yellow then brown before falling to the ground. Elongated spots
occur on stem and petioles.

Disease management
Following crop rotation and use of certified seed of disease resistance cultivars is one of the
important strategy to mange this disease. Harvesting before much defoliation occurs and
destroying plants in waste area may reduce damage by removing sources of infection. Use of
bacterium Pseudomonas strains 679-2 (Casida and Lukezic ,1992) and chemical
Chlorothalonil (Gray et al. (1987) has been found very effective in managing this disease in
different Lucerne growing areas. Casida and Lukezic (1992) obtained control of common leaf
spot with the use of bacterium Pseudomonas strains 679-2. Gray et al. (1987) reported
chemical control measure (Chlorothalonil) for the management of the leaf spot disease of
alfalfa.

Phytophthora root rot

Causative agent and disease development
Phytophthora root rot caused by the soil borne fungus Phytophthora megasperma Drechs. f.
sp. medicaginis T. Kuan and D.C. Erwin (Hansen and Maxwell, 1991). P. medicaginis is a
wide distributed disease and prevalent in almost every Lucerne growing regions of the world.
The disease occurs when the soil is poorly drained or during periods of excessive rainfall and
/or flood irrigation and high soil temperature (Wilkinson and Millar, 1982, Barta and
Schmitthenner, 1986, Munkvold and carlton, 1995). The causal fungus is believed to survive
between crops in soil and plant residues, primarily as thick-walled resting spores (Oospores
and Chlamydospores). These spores are spread by flowing water, tillage equipment and any
means that moves from infested field to healthy field (Erwin and Ribeiro, 1996). The
optimum and maximum temperature for growth and infection of Phytophthora fungus are 76-
820F and 860F, respectively. It has a narrow host range in nature and Lucerne is the primary
host (Erwin and Ribeiro, 1996) but other legumes like chickpea is also infested and suffers
losses in different parts of the globe. (Irwin and Dales, 1982, Suryanarayana and Pathak,
1968).

Symptoms
Germinating seed and seedlings of lucerne are infected and killed rapidly, with the disease
appearing as damping off. The plants appear stunted and discolored yellow or reddish purple
and they may be wilted above ground. Damaged plants may have taproot girdled at same
depth as water table in soil. Internally, the root tissue is discolored yellow. The roots are
severely rotted, the plants are pulled up easily, leaving the root in the soil (Kuan and Erwin,
1980).

Disease management
Assuring good drainage is the first step in almost all situations (Erwin and Ribeiro, 1996).
Grow resistant cultivars (Wiersma et al., 1995) and crop rotation helps to reduce the
inoculums levels. Long term rotations are necessary to eradicate the fungus. Chemical control
of Phytophthora root rot is possible, but is seldom economically feasible. Seed treatment with
metalaxyl will reduce Phytophthora root rot is possible, but is seldom economically feasible
(Rhodes and Myers, 1989). Seeds can be treated with biological agents such as bacterium
Bacillus cereus to control Phytophthora root rot (Silo-suh et al., 1994, Handelsman et al.,
1990).

Bacterial Pathogen
Bacterial wilt of Lucerne
Causative agent and disease development
Bacterial wilt of Lucerne caused by coryneform bacterium, the gram positive Clavibacter
michiganensis sub sp. insidiosus (McCulloch) Davis, Gillaspie, Vidaver and Harris is found
in most alfalfa growing areas in north America, Southern Europe, New Zealand and Some
parts of Asia and Africa (Close and Mulcock, 1972; Samac et al., 1998). Bacterial wilt is
favored by cool temperatures and abundant moisture, usually becoming most severe in low,
poorly drained areas, wet weather in spring and early summer (Koehler and Jones, 1932). It
overwinters in infected plants and in plant residue in the soil. The bacteria have survived in
dry plant tissue or seed for 8-10 years or more in the laboratory (Cormack, 1961). It is spread
by splashing water, animals, tillage equipment’s, infected hay and seeds (Nemeth et al.,
1991). The bacteria enter the plants through wounds in the roots and crowns produced by
winter injury or mechanical injury. In advanced stages of the disease, bacteria multiplying
rapidly in crown and stem tissues and are released into the surrounding soil water.

Symptoms
Infected plants appear slightly yellow and stunted. Shortened stems cause bunchy growth and
small, chlorotic and cupped leaves. During warm dry weather, plants may wilt and die
rapidly. Initially, only the tips of the stems droop, then wilting followed by dying occurs.
Roots of infected plants have a pale yellow to brown discoloration in the stale. Stunting is
most evident during re-growth fallowing cutting, progressively less growth is produced after
each cutting. The water conducting tissues are invaded and clogged by rapidly multiplying
bacteria, resulted yellowing, stunting and eventually death of the plant. Symptoms are most
obvious in re-growth after cutting in late summer and autumn.

Disease management
Use of resistant varieties offers a practical means of controlling wilt was reported by Palmer
et al. (1977) and Vindas et al. (1979) in alfalfa. Use a programme of high, balanced fertilizer
(Particularly potassium and phosphorus) based on a soil test to help maintain plant vigor.
Avoiding seeding fields to receive surface drainage from infected area and maintaining
machinery hygiene when moving between stands; cutting of young stands before old stands
when using the same equipment may be practice to avoid the infection (Chand et al., 1987).

Viral pathogen
Alfalfa or Lucerne mosaic
Causative agent and disease development
The Alfalfa mosaic disease caused by Alfalfa Mosaic Virus (AMV) is the species of the
genus Alfamovirus in the family Bromoviridae. Alfalfa mosaic virus has a genome causing of
three, single stranded, positive-sense RNAs. RNAs1 and 2 encode proteins (P1 and P2)
involved in virus replication (Nassuth and Bol, 1983; Herranz et al., 2012). Alfalfa mosaic
virus is a widespread pathogen on lucerne (Crill et al., 1970; Hiruki and Miczynski, 1987;
Zainadini at al., 2005; Hassumi et al., 2012). The disease causes a huge loss in forage yield
and quality. The yield losses vary 15-23% in fresh weight, 15-18% in dry weight (Bailiss and
Oilennu, 1996) and in severe cases the damage in forage yield can occurs up to 30 % (Leath
et al., 1988). Infected seed is the most likely primary source of infection. It is more likely to
appear in the cooler months. AMV carries over on live plants and alternate hosts. The virus is
spread among plant by pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum, the green peach aphid, Myzus
persicae and at least 11 other aphid species and pollen or agricultural machinery (Hiruki and
Hampton, 1990, Leath et al., 1988). This occurs in years with summer and autumn rains
which favours plant growth and thus an increase in aphid numbers, and dry springs which
favours rapid activity and the development of symptoms.

Symptoms
Alfalfa mosaic virus symptoms vary from light and almost unnoticeable, to severe, causing
plants to die, due to the diversity of strains of the virus, the cultivars and environmental
conditions. AMV causes an inter veinal light green or yellow mottle on the leaves and a
stunting of the plant and leaf deformation. When the disease advances the symptoms appear
such as chlorosis, rugose and rosette (Hiruki and Hampton, 1990; Pecetti et al., 2001).

Disease management
Use of disease free AMV seeds is first and foremost steps to prevent the infection from this
disease. Unproductive fields should be plowed-down and planting of corn, sorghum, a small
grain or forage grasses may be done. Keep down weeds in drainage ditches and fencerows,
along roadsides and other waste areas. Susceptible crops like potatoes and peas should be
planted distant from infected Lucerne field. Cutting or grazing in early spring can delay
build-up and assist biological control by predators, parasites and fungal disease. Chemical
control sometimes necessary to prevent the loss of production occurred spring, summer and
autumn planted crop.
Table 1: Summary of some of the diseases infecting Lucerne
SN Disease/Parasite
A. Fungal diseases
1 Anthracnose
2 Root and crown rot
3 Spring black stem and leaf spot
4 Summer black stem and leaf spot
5 Yellow leaf blotch
6 Lepto or pepper leaf spot
Pathogens/causative agent Symptoms Control
Colletotrichum trifolii Bain & Oval to diamond shaped brown borders Use resistant varieties. Avoid
Essary lesions on the stem. Stems wilt and turn spreading of spores.
straw coloured, with "Shepherd's hook"
appearance.
Cylindrocladium floridanum Blackish brown lesion on stalk appears Apply seed treatment.
Saybers and Seymour rough, sinks slightly. Plants wilt and die due
to destruction of the crown bud and/or the
root.
Phoma medicaginis var. Spots are small, dark brown to black and Use resistant varieties. Crop
medicaginis Malbr & Roum [Syn. irregular on the lower leaves, petioles and rotation and spring burning when
Phoma herbarum Westend var. stems in early spring. Leaf lesions merge, severe.
medicaginis FCL] killing large area, turn yellow and often
wither before dropping off.
Cercospora medicaginis Ell. & Ev. Small brown rough circular spots form on Use resistant varieties.
both leaf surfaces. Severely infected leaflets
are killed and defoliation occurs. Affected
stem, petioles and peduncle may die.
Leptotrochila medicaginis Yellow spots, streaks and blotches develop Use disease resistant varieties,
(Formerly named Pseudopeziza or on the margins or long the veins. Blotches plant in well drained soils and
Pyrenopeziza medicaginis); become elongated to fan shaped and finally crop rotation.
Imperfect stage: Sporonema become dark brown to black. Dead leaves
phacidiodes curl down and drop.
Leptosphaerulina briosiana Small, irregular black "pepper" spots develop Crop rotation and plant in well
(Pollacci) Graham & Lutterell on younger leaves, petioles and stems. drained soils.
Lesions form round to oval, light brown to
tan spots with a darker brown margin, with
faint halo in the surrounding area.
7 Stagonospora leaf and stem spot Stagonospora meliloti (Sexual Diffuse margin and dark brown specks are Crop rotation and plant in well
stage: Leptosphaeria prantensis) sprinkled on leaf and stem and drop soon drained soils. Use resistant
after lesion appear. varieties.

8 Gray mold Botrytis cinerea (Persoon) Fries Water-soaked small spots are formed in the Crop rotation. Soil treatment
(Anamorph: Botryotinia fuckeliana leaf and stalk. Whole plants soften and with bio-agents. Burning when
(de Bary) Whetzel collapse to brown. severe.

9 Summer blight Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn Foliage on affected plants wilts and blights Seed treatment. Crop rotation.
during prolonged periods from dark, Maintain soil fertility levels
somewhat sunken, girdling canker near the especially potassium.
base of stems, at the crown and the tap root
near where lateral roots emerge. Brown
bands develop in the older, light coloured
lesions.

10 Southern blight Corticium rolfsii Curzi Leaf and stem become withering, yellowish Crop rotation, seed treatment,
brown and causing plant death. burning when severe.
11 Verticillium wilt Verticillium alboatrum Reinke & Discolouration of the vascular tissue, and Use resistant cultivars. Crop
Berthold scorching and wilting of individuals leaves, rotation and seed treatment.
often appearing as "V" shaped chlorosis at
the tip of the leaflet. Stems being to yellow
and become stunted.
12 Typhula snow blight Typhula ishikariensis Imai The symptoms appear just after snow- Crop rotation, Affected plants
melting. Stem and leaves become water- collected and burned
soaked and softened like boiled.
13 Brown root rot Phoma sclerotioides G. Preuss & Symptoms are most noticeable in the early 2-3-year rotation with small
Sacc. (Syn: Plenodomus meliloti spring when plants may be dead or severely grains. Use resistant varieties.
Dearn & G.B. Sanford) diseased and are slow to green up. Crown Spray application of
and upper tap and lateral roots are rotted. Carbendazim or Topsin -M or
Diethofencarb @ 0.1%.
14 Sclerotium crown and stem rot Sclerotinia trifoliorum G.Preuss & Small brown spot on leaves and stems. Timely sowing. Deep summer
Sacc. (Syn: Plenodomus meliloti) Active infections in spring cause patches of ploughing. Crop rotation
Dearm and G.B. Sanford plants to turn yellow, wilt and die. Rotted
crowns are yellowish brown to brown, white
cottony growth present on infected stems

15 Violet root rot Helicobasidium momopa Tanaka In early summer young leaves begins to Crop rotation. Deep summer
wither from leaf tip and soon all the leaves ploughing. Burn affected plant
come to wither and die in brown. The main debris.
root is covered with felts-like bright violet
hyphae.
16 Fusarium wilt Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Infected plants wilt. Leaves and stems may Crop rotation. Deep summer
medicaginis (Weimer) Synder become yellow but eventually become ploughing. Use resistant
H.N. Hans. bleached. Internal water conducting tissue of cultivars. Seed treatment.
tap root has reddish brown to brown streaks.

17 Powdery mildew Leveillula taurica (Lev.) G. First symptoms appear on lower stems and Use disease resistant cultivars.
Arnaud (Ana.: Oidiopsis sp.) leaves. In advanced infections small orange Deep ploughing and deep burial
spots develop and rapidly cover on entire of infected plant debris. Spray
field resulting in severe losses. application of Triadimefon @
0.2%.

18 Charcoal rot Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Dry light brown lesions occur on the crown Minimize moisture and
Goidanich and roots, which later become soft and nutritional stress where possible.
spongy. In severe cases plants become wilted Crop rotation and deep burial of
and die. infected plant debris.
 19 Aphamomyces root rot
B. Bacterial diseases
1 Bacterial stem blight
2 Bacterial sprout rot
3 Bacterial leaf Spot
4 Crown gall
C. Viral diseases
1 Alfalfa latent virus
Aphanomyces euteiches race 2 Infected seedlings develop yellow cotyledons Use certified seed. Crop rotation.
followed by chlorosis of other leaflets. Root Seed treatment. Clean cultivation
and stems initially appear gray and water-
soaked, and then turn light to dark brown.
Seedlings become stunted. It reduces root
mass on established plants.
Pseudomonas syringae pv syringae Infection at first appear water-soaked, later Avoid excess irrigation. Plant in
Van Hall [Syn. P. medicaginis dry up and turn black or brown, stem short, well drained soil. Bactericide
(Sackett) E.F.Smith] spindly and malformed. application at proper time
Erwinia chrysanthemi pv Soft rots and wilts. Stunting and dwarf. Crop rotation, deep summer
chrysanthemi Burkholder ploughing.
Mcfadden & Dimock
Xanthomonas campestris pv. Seedlings, stems and leaves affected. Small, Grow well adopted high yielding
alfalfae (Riker, Jones & Davis) irregular, yellowish, water-soaked spots on varieties. Maintain soil fertility
Dye the leaves, enlarge, turn brown to black and especially phosphorus and
develop light yellow to tan, papery center. potash. Weed management.
Severe defoliation is common.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens Smith Plant cells enlarged and divided to form Good drainage and avoid
and Townsend, Conn irregularly shaped galls on crown branches at excessive irrigation. Crop
or just below the soil line. rotation. Use Agrobacterium
radiobacter (aqrocin 84) bio-
agent.
Alfalfa Latent Virus (ALV) Genus: Alfalfa becomes infected without producing Vector (Pea aphid:
Carlavirus group symptoms. Acyrthosiphon pisum)
management.
 2 Alfalfa enation Alfalfa Enation Virus (AEV) shorten internodes, bushy appearance and Use high quality seed. Vector
Genus: Rhabdovirus leaflet deformations, later puckering, vein management (Aphis craccivora).
enations, varying sized papillae or keel like
formations both on the adsxial leaflet surface
and epinasty of leaflet blades.

3 Lucerne Australian Latent Lucerne Australian Latent Virus Naturally infected but show no symptoms No control measures. Use high
(LALV) Genus: Nepovirus quality seed.

4 Lucerne transient streak Lucerne Transient Streak Virus Chlorotic, streaking along the lateral veins Use resistant varieties, clean
(LTSV), Genus: Sobemovirus with yellow flecks and distortion of the cultivation.
leaves.

D. Phytoplasma diseases
1 Alfalfa witches' Broom Phytoplasma like organism Dwarfed, leaf is small, rounded often with Remove diseased plants,
Transmitted by leafhopper yellow edges and young leaves may be reseeding and good
twisted management. Vector
(Leafhopper) control.

2 Lucerne Yellow Phytoplasma like organism Leaves become yellow to red purple, A Vector (Leafhopper)
Transmitted by leafhopper distinct brown colour underside of the root management.
bark. Plants may die.
3 Little leaf of alfalfa Phytoplasma like organism Little leaf symptoms appear. No control measure’s

4 Aster Yellow Phytoplasma like organism Leaves and stems showing symptoms on Vector management
inter-veinal chlorosis and purpling.

E. Nematode diseases
1 Root-knot nematode Meloidogyne spp. Seedling severely stunted, older plant may be Use resistant cultivars. Crop
stunted, Excessive root branch with many rotation. Clean cultivation. Soil
small galls. fumigation before planting.
 2 Dagger nematode Xiphinema americanum Cobb Reduce number of fine feeder roots and the Crop rotation. Follow clean
overall root mass cultivation
3 Lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans (Cobb) Reduce plant vigor, causing yellowing and Crop rotation. Use resistant
Filipjov & Schuurmans- Stekhoven stunting, oblong, yellow to dark brown spots varieties.
or lesions on the roots.

4 Stem nematodes Ditylenchus dipsaci (Kuhn) Dwarfing, distortion, swollen shoots, leaves Use certified seed. Crop rotation.
Filipjey clustered towards ends of stems. Plants die in Use clean harvesting equipments
patches. Infected plants have white shoots and hygiene practice.
referred to as "white flagging".

F. Parasitic Higher Plant

1 Dodder Cuscuta spp. Dodder is rootless, yellow-orange thread like Follow crop rotation. Sow
parasite weed in alfalfa that penetrates into certified seed. Herbicide
stems and forms dense tangled. Mat, application (Pendimethaline,
sometimes several feet in diameter. Traflan TR-10).
Established alfalfa stands and shorten stand
life.
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