The Scientists from Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University of Hisar have identified a new and potentially devastating disease affecting pea crops.

Named “Witches’ Broom,” the disease is associated with the pathogen ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ (16SrI).

The American Phytopathological Society (APS), USA, which recognizes new diseases in plants, has accepted and published the report of this new disease by the scientists in its prestigious journal ‘Plant Disease’ as the first research report.

Vice-Chancellor of the University Dr. B. R Kamboj said that scientists from the Haryana Agricultural University are the first in the world to discover this disease.

They have submitted a research report on the phytoplasma pea disease, which has been recognized by an international organization and published in its journal.

He said that early identification of the disease will help in developing a planned breeding program.