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TESTING OF FUNGICIDES FOR THE CONTROL OF LOOSE SMUT OF WHEAT

S.A. JAMIL KHAN, M. JALALUDDIN*, A. GHAFFAR* AND A.K. KHANZADA

Abstract: Loose smut of wheat caused by Ustilago tritici (Pers.) Rostr., is one of the major diseases of wheat in wheat growing countries of the world. Upto 7 % losses in wheat variety Kalyansona have been recorded in India (Joshi et al., 1973) whereas, an incidence of 1-2% has been reported in Pakistan (Kamal & Moghal, 1968; Hafiz, 1986; Khan et al., 1992). In 1981-82, the severity of loose smut in "some fields of Pakistan reached upto 15% (Khanzada & Aslam, 1982). Bhutta & Ahmed (1991) recorded upto 0.2 % infection of loose smut in some areas of Punjab and suggested treatment of seed lots for the production of disease-free certified seeds. Seed dressing with fenufuran (Panoram) and tridimenol (Baytan) @ 2 to 4 g/kg seed provided complete control of loose smut of wheat while carboxin (Vitavax) did not show consistent results (Khanzada & Mathur, 1983). The present report describes the comparative efficacy of 3 systemic fungicides used at different dosage for the control of loose smut of wheat.

Crop Diseases Research Institute, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Karachi University Campus, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.