Current Insights on Stemphylium Blight of Lentil with its Management Strategies

Abstract

Stemphylium Blight (SB) triggered by Stemphylium botryosum (Wallr.) (teleomorph- Pleospora herbarum), first identified in Bangladesh in 1986, is a significant challenge to all the major lentil-growing nations. It induces partial to complete foliar damage and results in about 3/5th to full failure of the lentil yield. The molecular study for the recognition and delineation of species is inevitable as high complexity is seen due to environmental concerns and contrasting morphological characteristics among species. The frequency and intensity of this disease depends on environmental and climatic factors that are mainly favored by high humidity, temperature greater than 220C, and cloudiness. The pathogen mainly persists in crop debris and occasionally in seed during the offseason. Mapping QTLs by utilizing wild varieties and landraces may be used to develop disease-resistant varieties which it is the most efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable technique. Integrated disease management approaches along with Omics and weather prediction tools may be crucial in avoiding severe SB outbreaks. A comprehensive review article discusses the morphological as well as molecular dimension of pathogens, their effects, pathogenicity, integrated disease management approaches, and future views.