Department of Plant Pathology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004
National Symposium on Strategic Issues in Plant Pathological Research held at Department of Plant Pathology, CSK HP Krishi Vishvavidayalaya, Palampur on November 24–25, 2011
Foot rot (bakane) of rice caused by Fusarium moniliforme has become a serious problem particularly on basmati rice in Punjab during recent years. Investigations on survival of Fusarium moniliforme were conducted in vitro and in vivo during 2009–10. Infected grains and straw bits were stored in refrigerator at a temperature (4–5°C) and at room temperature after harvesting in the month of November, 2009. It was found that survival was more than 90% in all the cases till March, 2010. Survival was found to be 5.5% and 16.6% in case of stored grains where as it was 33.3% and 22.5% in case of infected straw bits stored at room temperature and refrigerator respectively till December, 2010. Survival in naturally infested soil and artificially infested soil in pots was found till June, 2010. In infected grains pathogen survived till January and February, 2011 at room temperature and in refrigerator, respectively where as survival in case of infected straw was recorded upto March, 2011 at room temperature and in refrigerated respectively. However under field conditions disease was not observed in the field infested during previous year. The present investigations revealed that though the Fusarium moniliforme can survive for longer period in protected conditions, but it does not survive for longer period under field conditions in Punjab. Screening of different genotypes revealed that basmati genotypes are more susceptible to Fusarium moniliforme as compared to rice genotypes. Incidence of foot rot ranged from 0.0% to 15.0% in different genotypes of rice where as its severity was in the range of 0.2% to 48.0% on different genotypes of basmati rice.
