wheat diseases management – GW 322 Eng – eChoupal Advisory

Major diseases

Rust:

Symptoms

Yellow Rust (P. striformis) Yellow powdery pustules appear on leaves, forming stripes.
Brown or leaf rust (P. triticina): Round, orange powdery pustules, irregularly arranged or in clusters on leaves, less common on the leaf sheath and stalk.

Control

For rust control, spray recommended systemic fungicides like propiconazole (200 ml/acre) or tebuconazole combinations immediately when initial symptoms appear on 5–10% of leaves before it reaches the flag leaf.

Loose Smut:

Symptoms

The fungus destroys the ears completely, turning them into a black loose powdery mass consisting of spores and leaving behind the rachis only.

Control

Seed treatment with Carboxin 75 WP @ 2.5 gm/kg seed or Carbendazim 50 WP @ 2.5 gm/kg seed or Tebuconazole 2DS @ 1.25 gm/kg seed.

Karnal Bunt:

Symptoms

It is a seed borne disease.
In the ear only, a few grains are infected.
The infected grains on pressing give out black powder of spore mass. This powder gives peculiar stinking smell.

Control

One spray of Propiconazole 25EC @ 0.1% using 200 litre/acre of water be given at 50% flowering. If conditions are favourable for the disease, then repeat at an interval of 15 days to control the disease.

Powdery Mildew:

Symptoms

Powdery mildew can easily be diagnosed by the white, powdery patches that form on the upper surface of leaves and stem.
Powdery growth later become black lesion and cause drying of leaves and other parts.

Control

One need-based spray of Propiconazole 25% EC @200g/acre can be given at ear head emergence or appearance of disease on flag leaf, whichever is earlier.

Flag SMUT:

Symptoms

Long narrow lead grey or black streaks or stripes running parallel to veins are formed on the leaves.
The stripes eventually rupture and expose black sooty mass of spores.

Control

Seed treatment with Carboxin 75 WP @ 2.5 gm/kg seed or Carbendazim 50 WP @ 2.5 gm/kg seed or Tebuconazole 2DS @ 1.25 gm/kg seed.