CROP HEALTH SITUATION DURING FEBRUARY/EARLY MARCH, 2008
The 5th issue of the Wheat Crop Health Newsletter Vol. 13 is being brought out this month covering the crop health reports for the month of February and early March. The weather during the month of February remained exceptionally cool throughout the growing regions of the country. The temperatures went below 0oC in many parts of NWPZ (Punjab, Haryana and Uttrakhand). Due to this, the early sown crop suffered damages due to frost. The crop health reports for the month of February, 08 were received from Drs. G.S. Dhindsa (Ludhiana), Dhanbir Singh (Dhaulakuan), M. Prashar (Flowerdale, Shimla), SP Bishnoi (Durgapura), S.K. Pant (Almora), VK Singh (Kanpur), AK Singh (Faizabad), SC Misra (Pune) and Wheat Rust Mycologist, Mahabaleshwar. Drs. A.K. Sharma and K.S. Babu also visited farmers’ fields in and around Karnal. Infected/damaged samples were also received from farmers of the area. The team comprising of Drs. Indu Sharma (Ludhiana), M Prashar (Flowerdale, Shimla) and Beant Singh (Ludhiana) visited parts of Punjab on 7th March, 2008, while Drs. V.S. Sohu, Indu Sharma and PPS Pannun from PAU, Ludhiana undertook survey trip on 3rd March, 2008.
North Western Plain Zone (NWPZ): October sown crop in parts of Haryana and Punjab suffered due to very low temperatures (minimum temperature going to zero or sub-zero level) during this month. Damage was observed in emerging ear heads that became sterile and white in colour. Damage was samples were received from several farmers of the region. Samples of yellow rust infected PBW 343 plants were received from Pehowa (District Kurukshetra) in Haryana. The disease level by early March was 30-40S. A team of PAU, Ludhiana Scientists (Drs. Indu Sharma, VS Sohu and PPS Pannum) visited areas of Samrala, Mohali, Banur and Rajpura on 3rd March. They observed that the aphid infestation was moderate to high. Flag smut was low, except Vill. Pakki Rurki (10-15%). Powdery mildew score was 2 to 4. Downy mildew was also observed in one field at Landran. Stripe rust was not wide spread in the area surveyed, but in Vill. Pakki Rurki, it was Ts to 80S on unknown variety. Loose smut was in low intensity.- Frost damage was also observed in some fields. Wheat crop was again monitored in the north western region of Punjab in areas of Phillaur, Goraya, Jallandhar, Dasuya, Mukerian, Batala and Beas by a team of scientists: Dr. Indu Sharma Dr. M. Prashar (Reg. Res. Stn. Flowerdale, Shimla) and Dr. Beant Singh (PAU, Ludhiana) on 7th March. In general there was low to high intensity of aphids in all the fields monitored. Stripe rust was not wide spread but in an isolated pocket at village Kolian near Mukerian, it was traces to 80S on unknown variety. However, at the focus of infection, severity was high and rest of the plants in the field did not have heavy infection of rust and 5S-10S leaf rust was also observed. In another field at Jeevanwal, traces to 60S stripe rust was recorded. From Batala to Beas, stripe rust was in traces. In these fields, it was interesting to see that the foci of infection had very high severity of yellow rust but rest of the area had low infection of rust. The crop in general was healthy and good. Flag smut was low except for at Bara Kambol near Dasuya where it ranged between 10 – 25%. Powdery mildew score (2-3) and loose smut incidence was low. One field of village Gillanwali falling between Jeevanwal and Batala where wheat crop was sown prior to 25th October was cut for fodder as there was severe damage due to frost. Some of the area was even re-sown with Berseem after cutting wheat. In the still standing crop there was direct damage to the earheads which were devoid of grains and had turned white. There was sterility in almost 20-30% ear heads. Most of the area was under cultivation of wheat varieties, PBW 343, PBW 502 and in isolated pockets un-recommended varieties were grown.
Survey was carried out for Cereal Cyst Nematode, Heterodera avenae in four tehsils of Jaipur district and two tehsils of Sikar district. Infestation was observed from farmer’s fields in villages, Gunawata, Labana, Nathawala, Ghasipura, Hanutia (Shahpura) Rampura Dabri, Khajroli, Gulabwari, Radawas, Raja Rampura, Bandi, Hasteda, Sandersar and Jalim Singh Ka Bas (Chomu) and around Reengus. It was also observed that 10 to 15 % fields of area surveyed were infested with CCN. In sick fields of Gunawata and Raj Ramjipura, heavy losses were observed. CCN resistant variety Raj MR-1 of wheat and RD 2052, RD 2035 and RD 2624 of barley were free from CCN infestation. Chenopodium album, a common weed was infected with Cereal Cyst Nematode, Heterodera avenae. Maximum infestation of CCN on Barley was recorded in Jaipur, Sikar and Hanumangarh districts. Growing of non- host crops likes mustard and chrysanthemum as inter cropping and mix cropping in some villages of surveyed districts showed low CCN. Observations revealed that Pratylenchus spp. is prevalent in Tonk, Jaipur, while Anguina tritici is prevalent in Sikar and Jaipur districts. About 300 hectares of wheat fields were affected by CCN in Nohar, Bhadra, Rawatsar and Sangaria Tehsil of Hanumangarh District (Rajasthan) as information received from Assistant Director (Extension), Nohar (Hanumangarh).
Northern Hill Zone: No yellow rust was observed in Dhaulakuan area at farmers fields in February. High incidence of powdery mildew was recorded at farmers fields at Bhagani (Paonta) and Bubi (Nahan) on varieties RAJ 3777, RAJ 3765 and UP 2338. Heavy infestation of aphid was recorded on varieties UP 2338, PBW 343 and HS 295 in Paonta valley. Yellowing of crop was noticed in aphid-infected areas. Crop was good in irrigated areas while in rainfed areas, drying of crop was observed. No rain occurred during February though weather was cloudy. At Almora, yellow rust appeared in first weak of March in trials/nurseries on Var. Agra Local
North Eastern Plain Zone: In Kanpur area, wheat crop in general was in good condition due to prevailing favourable temperature. No incidence of leaf rust was observed up to 26th February in trap plot nursery. Incidence of other disease such as foliar blight and powdery mildew were observed only in traces on wheat varieties, Agra local, WL 711, Lal Bahadur and HD 2329. Foliar aphids have also been observed in different entries of IBDSN, NBDSN and EBDSN nurseries of Barley.
In Faizabad area, moderate incidence of leaf blight was observed in timely sown crop during late February while in timely sown crop leaf blight had started to appear. Sporadic incidence of loose smut was also observed. The major weeds noticed were Phalaris minor and Chenopodium. Damage due to blue bulls was also experienced.
Peninsular Zone (PZ): No natural incidence of rust was noticed in any of the locations in Pune District. Trap plot nursery was also free from rusts. Trace incidence of stem borer was observed in many farmers fields and Hol farm with low severity. Overall, crop health was very good and temperatures were cool and dry during February. As per report received from Mahabaleshwar, leaf rust severity increased in Trap Nurseries in Western Maharashtra. Powdery mildew and leaf blight were noticed in hilly areas of Panchagani and Mahabaleshwar. However, no stem rust incidence was reported from Maharashtra.
Winter School on ‘IPM in wheat based cropping system’ was organized by the Crop Protection Programme of the DWR, Karnal (Course-Director: Dr. A.K. Sharma) w.e.f February 5-25, 2008 under the aegis of the ICAR, New Delhi. Twenty three participants of the rank of Assistant Professor/Scientist and above, participated in the Winter School. They were from West Bengal, Assam, UP, Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharahstra and J&K State.
Issued by: Crop Protection Programme, Directorate of Wheat Research, P.B. 158, Karnal-132 001
Compiled and Edited by: A.K.Sharma, M.S.Saharan and K.S.Babu
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