(FREE) UPSC Current Affairs 2024 PDF

(THE GIST OF PIB) Candidatus Phytoplasma

(NOVEMBER-2024)

Researchers have identified a new microbe called Candidatus Phytoplasma responsible for a peculiar disease that has been affecting the sesame fields of Midnapore in West Bengal.

It is a microbe with a cell wall lacking Mollicutes bacteria.
It thrives in the nutrient-rich phloem and sieve cells of plants.
Transmission: Its transmission takes place primarily through phloem feeder insects (leafhoppers, plant-hoppers, psyllids, and dodders), which are known to infect many commercially valuable crops like Catharanthus, tobacco, maize, and grapevine.
The manifestations of the disease are disfigurement and virescence of the floral parts, giving a leafy appearance.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is the oldest indigenous oilseed crop, with the longest history of cultivation in India.
Sesame or gingelli is commonly known as til (Hindi, Punjabi, Assamese, Bengali, Marathi), tal (Gujarati), nuvvulu, manchi nuvvulu (Telugu), ellu (Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada).
It is a primordial oilseed crop since the remnants of sesame seeds were discovered at Harappa and Mohenjo Daro.

Sesame is grown in almost all the states in large or small areas. It can be cultivated up to the latitude of 1600m (India 1200 m).
Temperature: Normally the optimum temperature required during its life cycle is between 25-35 0C.
If the temperature is more than 40 0C with hot winds the oil content reduces.
Soil: Sesame can be grown on a wide range of soils, however well drained light to medium textured soils are preferred. It does best on sandy loams with adequate moisture.
Climate: It is cultivated in the semi-arid climate of Western India, Central, Eastern and Southern part of India including lower Himalayas.
Season : It is cultivated during Kharif in arid and semi-arid tropics and rabi/summer in cooler areas.
The crop is grown in almost all parts of the country. More than 85% production of sesame comes from West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.