Ludhiana, October 30 Experts of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have advised the farmers of Punjab to use Karnal Bunt disease-free seed for wheat sowing. Dr Narinder Singh, Head, Department of Plant Pathology, said wheat varieties WHD 943 and PBW 291 were resistant to the Karnal Bunt disease. “With wheat sowing season underway in Punjab, it is essential to go for the testing of seed for the presence of Karnal bunt,” stressed Dr Amarjit Singh, Senior Extension Specialist, Plant Pathology. “This can be done by soaking a handful of seeds in ordinary water for a few minutes. Then take out the seed and spread it on white paper. If few (4-5) seeds are found disease infected, do not use this seed. Use disease free seed for wheat sowing,” he said. Dr Singh further said Karnal bunt was a fungal disease of wheat, prevalent in all the districts of Punjab. But it affects the wheat crop more at the sub-mountainous regions. He explained, “The disease is seed as well as soil borne. The partial nature of the pathogen infects only few grains in the ear heads and that too partially. The affected portion of the grain is converted into mass of the fungal spores, and millions of these spores fall and are added into the soil at the time of harvesting and threshing. These spores remain viable for 2 to 5 years and serve as a source of inoculum for the next crop season. The infected seed serving as primary inoculum in disease’s cycle upon germination may bring the spores to the soil surface. During February and March, the seed and soil borne inoculum germinate. To reduce this inoculum load, farmers are advised to select only disease free seed.”

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