Loose Smut Disease
Causal Organism = Ustilago tritici.
Symptoms=
· A black loose powdery mass is produced in place of grain.
· All ears of the plant are affected.
· When the powder is blowen away by the wind, the rachis is left behind.
· The fungus grows within the plant and no symptoms are visible till flowering.
· The flag of infection plants in some varieties become chlorotic even before the emergence of disease ear.
Favourable condition=
Temperature=16-22 degree (cold climate)
Relative humidity= 60-80%
Disease cycle =
Perennation=through soil and internally or
externally seed borne.
Primary infection= through seed.
Secondary infection= through wind, air
Disease cycle diagram of loose smut disease=
Management =
Cultural method
· Proper tillage application applies in field.
· Proper weed management application applies in field.
· Remove all infarcted part of the plant.
· Use disease registrant varieties. E.g., PV18, WG307, NP 13, KALYAN 224 etc
· Remove all infected before seed before sowing.
· Proper spacing maintain between row to row and plant to plant.
· Proper light or ventilation maintain in the field.
· Proper field sanitation application applies in field.
Chemical method
Seed treat with carboxin@2g/kg seed before sowing.
