Major wheat diseases are:-
1.Wheat Leaf Rust /Brown Rust: Puccinia recondita
Symptom:
- The postules are circular or slightly elliptical, smaller than those of stem rust, usually, do not coalesce, and contain masses of orange to orange-brown Urediospores
- Infection sites primarily are found on the upper surfaces of leaves and leaf sheaths and occasionally on the neck and awns
- Survival: Both survive on stubbles and volunteer crops
- Alternate host: Thalictrum sp.
- Spread: uredospores from hills.
Management:
- Mixed cropping with suitable crops.
- Avoid excess dose of nitrogenous fertilizers.
- Spray Zineb at 2.5 kg/ha or Propioconazole @ 0.1 %.
- Grow resistant varieties like PBW 343, PBW 550, PBW 17
2.Wheat Stem Rust: Puccinia graminis tritici
Symptom:
- Pustules (containing masses of urediospores) are dark reddish brown – occur on both sides of the leaves, on the stems, and on the spikes
- Pustules are usually separate and scattered, heavy infections -coalesce
- Prior to pustule formation, “flecks” may appear. Before the spore masses break through the epidermis, the infection sites feel rough to the touch
- As the spore masses break through, the surface tissues take on a ragged and torn appearance
- Survival: Both survive on stubbles and volunteer crops
- Alternate host: Berberis spp.
- Spread: uredospores from hills.
Management:
- Mixed cropping and crop rotation
- Avoid excess nitrogen
- Sulphur dusting @ 35-40 kg/ha
- Mancozeb @ 2g/lit
- Resistant varieties
- Lerma Rojo, Safed Lerma,
- Sonalika and Chotil
3.Wheat Stripe Rust/Yellow Rust:Puccinia striiformis
Symptom:
- The pustules of stripe rust, which, contain yellow to orange-yellow urediospores, usually form narrow stripes on the leaves
- Pustules also can be found on leaf sheaths, necks, and glumes.
- Survival: Both survive on stubbles and volunteer crops
- Alternate host: unknown
- Spread: uredospores from the hill.
Management:
- Mixed cropping and crop rotation
- Avoid excess “N”
- Sulphur dusting @ 35-40 kg/ha
- Mancozeb @ 2g/lit
- Resistant varieties
- Lerma Rojo, Safed Lerma,
- Sonalika and Chotil
4.Wheat Loose Smut: Ustilago tritici
Symptom:
- The entire inflorescence, except the rachis, is replaced by masses of smut spores.
- These black teliospores often are blown away by the wind, leaving only the bare rachis and remnants of other floral structures.
Management:
- Treat the seed with Vitavax @ 2g/kg seed before sowing.
- Burry the infected ear heads in the soil so that secondary spread is avoided.
5.Wheat Powdery mildew: Erysiphe graminis var. tritici
Symptom:
- Greyish white powdery growth appears on the leaf, sheath, stem and floral parts.
- Powdery growth later become black lesion and cause drying of leaves and other parts.
Management:
- Spray Wettable sulphur 0.2% or Carbendazim @ 500 g/ha.
Source-
- TamilNadu Agritech Portal
