Economic Impact of Plant Diseases in Important Crop Plants and Their Prevention: Special Reference to Rajasthan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rhimrj.2026.v13n09.009Keywords:
Plant disease, economic impact, crop loss, Rajasthan, pearl millet, mustard, cumin, chickpea, seed spices, integrated disease managementAbstract
Plant diseases are an important biological constraint to agricultural production because their effects are reflected not only in crop yield but also in produce quality, market value and cost of cultivation. Farmers bear direct losses when infection reduces plant population, grain formation or seed quality, and indirect losses through expenditure on seed treatment, biological agents, fungicides and additional field operations. These concerns are particularly relevant to Rajasthan, where crops are grown under diverse arid, semi-arid and irrigated environments. Pearl millet, mustard, wheat, chickpea, cumin, coriander and fenugreek are among the crops in which economically important diseases have been reported. Evidence from Rajasthan shows that downy mildew management in pearl millet can substantially protect yield; white-rust management in mustard can improve yield and benefit–cost ratio; biological management of Fusarium wilt can improve chickpea and cumin performance; and Alternaria blight management can protect cumin productivity. Coriander stem gall is an important problem in south-eastern Rajasthan, while powdery mildew is relevant to fenugreek production. Available research also makes clear that disease incidence and economic loss are not interchangeable measures. Reliable economic assessment requires information on disease severity, crop yield, produce quality, management expenditure and market return. The present review examines the economic significance of important crop diseases with special reference to Rajasthan and discusses their prevention through host resistance, healthy seed, crop rotation, biological control, suitable agronomic practices, disease surveillance and need-based chemical management.
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