EFFECT OF FOLIAR DISEASES CONTROL BY CHLOROTHALONIL ON POD YIELD AND QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF CONFECTIONERY GROUNDNUTS (ARACHIS-HYPOGAEA L)

Effects of foliar diseases control by chlorothalonil fungicide on pod yield and quality characteristics were studied in 10 confectionery groundnut genotypes at ICRISAT Centre, India, during two rainy seasons. Significant treatment (disease control versus no control), and genotypic effects were observed for pod yield, total biomass, remaining green leaf area, retained leaf area damaged by rust, shelling percentage, 100-seed mass, oil content, fatty acids, and oleic (O)/linoleic (L) acid, and polyunsaturated (P)/saturated (S) fatty acid ratios. A significant increase in pod yield and total oil content was observed due to the control of foliar diseases by chlorothalonil; whereas the protein content remained unaffected by it. The foliar diseases control by chlorothalonil affected four fatty acids; linoleic acid content increased whereas stearic, oleic, and behenic acid contents decreased. Of the seed quality characteristics, a significant decrease in O/L ratio, and a significant increase in P/S ratio were observed under the disease control treatment. Response to disease control for pod yield and quality characteristics was influenced by genotypes and years. Correlations among fatty acid contents, in general, remained unaffected by control of foliar diseases with chlorothalonil whereas those of fatty acid contents with pod yield, seed mass, oil and protein contents changed in their significance and magnitude.