Etiology, Epidemiology and Control of Bean Scab Caused by Elsinoe Phaseoli Jenkins F. Sp Vulgare in Kenya

Abstract

Food, clothing and shelter are considered to be man's three basic needs. While these may not be all that man requires for existence, it cannot be disputed that without them, especially food, man will literally starve to death. Currently, the world population is 4 billion and is estimated to reach 6 billion by the year 2,000. About half cf these people are undernourished and have less than 1500 kilo-calories per day whereas according tG FAQ standards,2,200 kilocalories per day is a suggested minimum requirement by a working man (12) . The majority of these undernourished peosle are in the developing countries. Food production therefore, is of prime importance for development escecially in the third world. Such forward strides as brought about by the green revolution which has given recent rapid rise in yields and production of such important crops as wheat, rice and maize in a number of developing countries, gives us an optimistic outlook in an otherwise grim situation. There are two groups of plants cf greatest importance to the world agriculture. The plant orders are Creaminess (cereals and grasses) and leguminous (peas, beans, the grain forage and green manure legumes) (4l).