Estimation of yield loss at different disease levels of spot blotch of wheat in Bihar

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the oldest and most important cereal crop. It is the second important staple cereal food in India after rice and has played vital role in stabilizing the food grain production in the country. Wheat crop is affected by many fungal diseases. Spot blotch disease of wheat caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana, a hemibiotrophic, phytopathogenic fungus is one of them and prevalent in warmer and humid wheat growing regions. An experiment was conducted in field condition at University farm of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, pusa to estimate the yield losses due to spot blotch. Findings of present investigations revealed that yield loss due to spot blotch of wheat varies between 7 to 30 per cent and loss in 1000-grain weight between 3 to 23 per cent, depending upon the levels of disease in Bihar.