IJSR International Journal of Scientific Research 2277 - 8179 Indian Society for Health and Advanced Research ijsr-6-3-10361 Original Research Paper Report of insect pests and diseases in Pippali and Sarpagandha from Assam B. Gogoi Dr. Rahul Sribastava Dr. Daisy Senapoty Dr. March 2017 6 3 01 02 ABSTRACT

  Piper longum commonly known as ‘Pippali’ and Rauwolfia serpentina, ‘Sarpagandha’ are two important medicinal herbs. The productivity of these crops is highly affected due to the attack of different insect pests and diseases. Sufficient informations on insect pests, diseases and nematodes in pippali and sarpagandha from North Eastern part of India is relatively scanty, for that a survey programme was undertaken to study the occurrence and distribution of these two plants throughout the state of Assam and secondly to study the occurrence of different insect pests, diseases and nematodes in these crops. The symptoms observed due to pest attack are stunted growth, deformation and yellowing of leaves and tender shoots, root galling, and loss of vigour etc. Important insect pest reported from pippali was Citrus black fly and in sarpagandha, scale insect and mealy bugs were found abundantly. In pippali, Phytophthora blight and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) were also recorded. Root– knot nematode infestation has been found in both the plant species where severity was more in sarpagandha.