Abstract
Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) of the family Papaveraceae is cultivated in different parts of the world such as Tasmania, Afghanistan, Egypt, India and Pakistan for the production of pharmaceutically important alkaloids including morphine, codeine, thebaine and papaverine. These alkaloids are frequently used as an analgesic, anti-tussive and anti-spasmodic in modern medicine. Besides, it is also grown in India as a source of edible seed and seed oil. The Central Institute (CIMAP), Lucknow has carried out detailed investigations on important diseases of opium poppy such as downy mildew (Peronospora arborescencearborescens), collar rot (Rhizoctonia solani), damping off (Pythium aphanidermatum), root rot (Fusarium semitectum), stem and capsule rot (Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora) and poppy mottle/mosaic (Potyvirus). Disease incidence, etiology and methods to control diseases caused by different pathogens have been described. Resistant cultivars of opium poppy against downy mildew have been developed. Thirty landraces of opium poppy originating in the Indian states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, and four Indian commercial cultivars were screened over four cropping seasons for their reaction to downy mildew under both field and artificial inoculation conditions. The landraces I-14 and N3 were resistant to downy mildew disease. Opium poppy germplasm for disease resistance against important fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens were screened and a disease resistant and high yielding cultivar 'Rakshit' was developed. It has shown disease rating in between 1 and 2 on 0-9 scale of downy mildew and served as highly resistant source against this most destructive disease. The use of resistant cultivars has been recommended for commercial cultivation to minimize disease incidence in northern India.