1Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Karnal, 132 001
2Indian Agriculture Research Institute, New Delhi, 110 012
3Wheat Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Nashipur, Dinajpur, Bangladesh
4International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), House 10B, Road 53, Gulshan 2, Dhaka, P.O. Box 6057, Bangladesh
5CIMMYT, G-2, B-Block, NASC Complex, DPS Marg, New Delhi, 110 012
6CIMMYT, Apdo. Postal 6–641, 06600 Mexico DF, Mexico
Department of Plant Pathology, Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Pundibari, Coochbehar, West Bengal
*Corresponding author's e-mail: a.k.joshi@cgiar.org
Online published on 12 May, 2017.
The first recorded occurrence in Asia of wheat blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, pathotype Triticum (synonym Pyricularia oryzae) occurred in Bangladesh in March 2016. Crop losses of up to 90% have been reported, with latesown wheat suffering particularly badly. The emergence of this disease has raised concern in neighboring countries where wheat represents a significant crop, most notably in India and Nepal. The existence of effective genetic resistance is in doubt, so for the moment the sole means of control is via the application of fungicides and adoption of beneficial cultural practices. The disease has been endemic in parts of South America for the last 30 years, so only a coordinated program of research and development has the potential to deliver rapid progress in combating the disease. In addition to evaluating and deploying genetic resistance and applying fungicides on an occasional basis, some control could be made possible by altering current crop rotation practice and/or manipulating the sowing time to promote disease escape.
Triticum aestivum, Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum, resistance, Bangladesh, South Asia
