Overview on occurrence and prevalence of damping-off pathogens impacting summer season okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)in Himachal Pradesh, India

Damping-off, caused by a range of fungal pathogens, is widely recognized as a major bottleneck in the global production of okra, including in India. In India, it is known to cause substantial and sometimes catastrophic losses, particularly during the summer season. This study aimed to assess the current status of damping-off in okra and to analyze the frequency distribution of its associated pathogens in major okra-growing regions of Himachal Pradesh. A systematic survey conducted during the summer season of 2023–24 in three districts—Kangra, Mandi, and Hamirpur—revealed a wide range of disease incidence, from 31.67% to 84.33%. The highest mean disease incidence was recorded in Hamirpur district (65.46%), followed by Mandi (59.04%), while the lowest incidence (53.33%) was observed in Kangra. A total of 44 fungal isolates associated with damping-off in okra were recovered, among which Rhizoctonia solani isolate JPO1 was identified as the predominant pathogen based on morpho-moleccular characterization. The highest colonization frequencies were recorded for Rhizoctonia solani (16.67%) and Fusarium solani (9.37%). Overall, eight fungal genera were found to be associated with okra damping-off in Himachal Pradesh.The findings from this study underscore the prevalence and severity of damping-off in summer-grown okra and highlight the dominant pathogenic fungi responsible. This information lays the groundwork for devising effective disease management strategies against this destructive malady.