Abstract

Pests and diseases take a heavy toll on the yield of ground- nut in India. Besides the overall reduction in yield, the quality of the produce is also affected to a considerable extent. Of the different measures taken to control these pests and diseases, cultivation of resistant varieties has been realised to be the most effective, ideal and economic method of reducing crop losses (Stakman and Harrar, 1957). Evolution of pest and disease resistant varieties is one extreme in plant breeding, the other and most important, being the increase in production and plant breeders throughout the world are striving to reach these ends. But so far no strain completely resistant to any of the major pests and diseases has been evolved.

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