author(s)
Paulin-Gabriel Adanga, Augustin Paluku, Grégoire Mamba, Faustin Ngama, Joseph Litucha and Albert Okungo

abstract
To assess the influence of seeding dates and densities on the incidence and severity of peanut rosette, a study was carried out over two cropping seasons at Isiro. It tested the effect of four dates coupled with three seeding densities. The different sowing dates for the first growing season were March 15^th, March 30^th, April 15^th and April 30^th, 2023. While for the second season the dates were August 1st, August 15^th, August 30^th and September 15^th, 2023. On the other hand, densities for the two cropping seasons were 250000 plants/ha (20 cm x 20 cm), 111, 111 plants/ha (30 cm x 30 cm) and 62500 plants/ha (40 cm x 40 cm). The combination of two factors resulted in 12 treatments. The results of two trials conducted using the Split plot experimental set-up indicated the following average: incidence of rosette: low for early sowings at high densities (21.1% and 15.1%), very high for late sowings at low densities (94.9% and 97.7%). In terms of disease development, late sowings (second week) showed an early onset of rosette, with higher severity or symptoms (scores 4 and 5) than early sowings, which showed a late onset (fourth week), with lower severity (score 1). Dry pod yield: high for early planters (775 kg/ha and 531 kg/ha) and low for late planters (113.7 kg/ha and 70 kg/ha). Statistical analyses (ANOVA) revealed significant differences between dates, densities and interaction of two factors for rosette incidence and peanut dry pod yield (for both seasons).