Loose Smut of Wheat

Description:

•Smut mean sooty (black) or charcoal like powder

•Responsible for heavy losses when susceptible varieties with infected seeds are grown year after year

•Cause losses 3-30 %

Symptoms:

•Head of affected plants converted into black mass of spores & no grain formation

•Affected young spike lets covered by silvery membrane

•Only the awns of awned varieties escape transformation

•Spores easily separate & blown off by wind leaving bear rachis

Disease Cycle:

•Air dried spores can survive for 12 months at 0-10 c

•Pathogen is internally seed-borne

•Infection occur when flowers are in full bloom & ovary is just developed after fertilization

Management:

•Solar energy treatment: Presoaking period of 4 hrs followed by 1 hr exposure to sun in summer

•Hot water treatment: 4-5 hrs in a tub at ordinary temp, at 132 F for 5 min & 132 F for 7 min

•Seed treatment with Vitavax & Baviston @ 2.5-3g/kg are systemic fungicides & effective

•Resistant varieties (Perwaz, Watan, Sehar, Shafaq)

•Only sow disease free seed

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