Author(s):

Sunil Kumar, Naresh Kumar, Satyadev Prajapati and Shivam Maurya

Abstract: Wheat is one of the most nutritious, proteinaceous and basic stable food crop is attacked by several factors. Among the biotic factors, the most notorious disease of wheat is spot blotch caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana (teleomorph Cochliobolus sativus). The disease mainly occurs in warm, humid wheat-growing regions, and the Eastern Gangetic Plains (EGP) of South Asia is a hotspot. It is most important disease of wheat in north eastern plains zone (NEPZ) representing warm and humid climate in India as well as in other South Asian countries. The incidence of spot blotch of wheat that were thought earlier as minor diseases, are increasing tremendously now a days due to global climate change. It is also increasing in North western plains zone (NWPZ) due to climatic change and causing losses in susceptible varieties. It is a soil and seed borne pathogen of wheat, barley and other small cereal grains and grasses that causes head blight, foliar blight/ spot blotch, seedling blight, common root rot, black point diseases and yield losses. The yield loss due to the disease is very significant especially in North Eastern Plains Zone (NEPZ) of India, Nepal Tarai and North Western Bangladesh. Estimates of yield losses due to spot blotch were reported to vary from 15.5 to 19.6% and up to 100% under severe infection conditions. Ideal conditions for spot blotch development on the leaves are relative humidity of near 95 per cent with an average temperature in the coolest month above 17 °C and long periods (more than 12 to 18 hours) of leafs wetness caused by rainfall, irrigation, fog or dew. Recently a number of genotypes have been identified as donors for improving host resistance. The best way to control spot blotch is through an integrated approach including varietal replacement, agronomic management and need based application of fungicides.

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