EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF PUCCINIA GRAMINIS VAR.

TRITICI IN INDIA

by L. M. J05m, E. E. SAARI* and S. D. GERA, Division of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-llOO12

The extensive cultivation of high-yielding dwarf wheats under high fertility conditions during the past few years has raised concern regarding the possibility of a serious black rust epidemic in India. Since the fall of 1967-68, a mobile survey programme has been started throughout the major wheat-growing areas. When the isochrones of the reported appearance of black rust are mapped, a regular pattern emerges. The first report of black rust is received from South India and as the season develops, reports are received from progressively further north. It has been known for sometime that cereal rusts cannot survive in the plains after the crop is harvested but it can be found at higher elevations in summer in both North and South India. The alternate host species of black rust is also found in the northern hills, but does not appear to function. The main wheat crop is planted in the fall, with sowing dates ranging from October to December. The source of primary inoculum has been presumed to be from the two reservoirs in the north and south. The data collected over the last three years suggest that the inoculum from the southern hills is the principal source which initiates the disease each year. Additional support for this postulation arises from the temperature profiles on the subcontinent. If the minimum cardinal temperature for infection is accepted at 14 °C. the isotherms agree with the isochrones for black rust. The inoculum, found in the northern hills. probably does not survive in most years. All or most of the inoculum present would be destroyed because of the low reproduction rates during the critical months of November, December, January and February. The inoculum which does survive would be in small quantities and the remaining period favourable for rust development is short. It appears that this source is not of major imortance from an epidemiology standpoint.

INTRODUCTION

The information presented in this paper was gathered through a co-ordinated wheat disease survey programme and by the periodic reports which were sent to the Wheat Disease Laboratory, Division of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, by co-operators throughout the country. The data represent efforts of many people working on a co-operative basis. We would like to acknowledge their contribution.

In the winter of 1967, concern regarding the status of wheat diseases was expressed by a number of scientists and administrators. The black rust (Puccinia graminis var. tritici) of wheat was of greatest concern. At that time the high-yielding dwarf wheats were beginning to make an impact on wheat production and the environmental situation was favourable for rust development. UnusuaIIy warm weather and frequent

*Ford Foundation, New Delhi

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L. M. JOSHI, E. E. SAARI & S. D. GERA

rain showers had been experienced throughout the northern wheat-growing areas.

Unfortunately, at that time there was no information available regarding the status of (i) whether black rust was present in the area and (ii) whether a race of black rust was present in the commercial acreage that could attack the dwarf wheat varieties. It was decided to initiate a survey for the wheat rust diseases. This survey has been continued and now includes all wheat diseases Other disciplines such as nematology and entomology have participated in the survey programme.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The following methods and techniques have been used throughout the survey.

Mobile survey

The use of mobile survey teams travelling through the wheat-growing areas of northern India has been a major feature of the survey work. A vehicle and two survey personnel stop approximately every 20 kilometres and inspect a field of wheat on each side of the highway. Each field is recorded on a special reporting form which has been designed for this purpose. This procedure is repeated every 14 to 21 days. The same routes are followed throughout the growing season so that a record of the crop and disease development is obtained.

The wheat area of the north has been divided into three routes. South India is surveyed by co-operators and staff personnel associated with the Wheat Improvement Scheme, whenever time permits.

Wheat disease trap nurseries

Wheat disease trap nurseries have susceptible checks, commercial and potential varieties as the major categories of the varieties entered into the nursery. This nursery is planted by co-operators at a large number of locations throughout the Indian subcontinent. Co-operators at each of these locations are requested to inspect the susceptible check varieties on a weekly basis for the first appearance of disease and to report their findings.

RESULTS

With the results that have been obtained from the nursery and the mobile survey reports, it has been possible to plot the isochronous appearance of black rust. Three years' of data indicate that black rust is first found in the area of South India, usually in the wheat-growing track of northern Mysore State. As the season develops, black rust is reported further northward and the advance of tbe rust appears to coincide with several factors. The prevailing wind pattern for a northward movement exists, and the environmental changes which allow black rust to develop also favour a continental movement from south to north. If the isotherms for the minimal temperature for black rust penetration is plotted using the low monthly mean average for a 30-year period, the isochronal appearance of the rust and minimum temperature for penetration seem to have a relationship.

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EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF Puccinia graminis V AR. trit lei IN INDIA 451

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the isochronal appearance of black rust for the years 1967-68, 1968-69 and 1969-70 are presented respectively. With the exception of the year 1967-68, rust was first observed in the Mysore State area and subsequent reports were received from further northward as the season developed It is not known whether the 1967-68 failure to observe rust appearance is from the incompleteness of the surveyor the extremely dry conditions that existed in the Mysore State at that time. Although a survey was made in the early January in this state, no rust was reported until after the establishment of black rust in Maharashtra State. It is suggested that black rust did not develop in this area because of the dry conditions and that it was found further northward at an earlier date because of the unusual warm weather and the excessive moisture that prevailed in that portion of the country.

In Fig. 4, a 3D-year average low monthly mean minimum isotherm of 14° C is presented (Climatological Tables 1931-1960). The isotherms represent the low temperature recorded at 08.00 or 08.30 hr which undoubtedly means that the actual temperature preceding the recorded low was actually lower than 14 9C.

If 15°C is accepted as the minimum temperature for black rust penetration, then theoretically black rust would not be found north of this line for each month stated (Rowell et af. 1958; Sharp et al. 1958). This 3D-year average seems to closely parallel the dates for the appearance of black rust.

DISCUSSION

It has long been known that black rust cannot survive in the Gangetic plains or the Deccan plateau during the Kharif (summer season). At that time, temperature and the general environment are unfavourable for rust development, and more over no host either as wheat or weed can be found. Previous studies (Mehta 1940, 1953; and Mishra 1953) have established that black rust can survive in the uredial stage on wheat which is planted at the higher elevations and the foothills of the Himalayan mountains in the north and in the southern hilly areas. In these hill areas wheat can be found throughout the year either as a cultivated crop or self-sown or volunteer plants. The uredial stage has neen observed on these plants throughout the summer period.

Also in the northern Himalayan hills, Berberis species are common and aecia cups are frequently observed on these plants. No connection to the wheat attacking forms of black rust has been demonstrated from collections made in nature (Prasada 1947). However, Berberis spp. have been successfully inoculated in glass-house trials with P. gram in is var, tritici (Mehta 1940; Mishra 1956).

Wheat is usually planted in the plains and plateau area of India in the months of September through December. In South India, sowing usually ~tarts in September and October and harvest occurs in the month of February. In Central India wheat, is sown primarily in the month of October and harvest occurs in the month of February or March. In North India, planting occurs in the later part of October and November and harvest occurs some time during the month of March and on into the first part of April. With the introduction of the highyielding dwarf wheat varieties of early maturity, sowing now occurs in the

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L. M. JOSHI, E. E. SAARI & S. D. GERA

middle part of November and in some instances late plantings occur in December. Even of the early maturing nature of these varieties, harvest will still occur in the month of March and April.

The sources of primary inoculum for the wheat crop for many years have been thought to be the hill areas of both North and South India. The information collected from the survey and co-operator reports would indicate that South India becomes infected with black rust at an early date and serves as a inoculum reservoir for the rest of the country. The primary inoculum source for this wheatgrowing area is presumed to be the Nilgiri Hills located in South India.

Although the black rust can survive in the northern hills throughout the summer months, a number of factors seem to indicate that this source of inoculum does not play a significant role in the epidemiology of black rust. The principle factors appear to be the sequence of planting and the environment that prevails during this period. Planting in North India occurs primarily in the month of November and at that time the temperature is unfavourable for the black rust organism. Rains are not of common occurrence during the winter season and most of the possible infection periods occur at night when heavy dew forms. The temperatures at this time are quite low, reaching an average minimum temperature for the month of November ranging from 10 (Q 15°C in the states adjacent to the Himalayan foothills (Climatological Tables 1931-1960). The average minimum temperature for the months of December, January and February in North India ranges from 7 to 11, 7 to 11 and 9 to 13 °C respectively (Climatological Tables 1931-1960).

The cold period persists late in the physiological life of the crop when a sudden rise in the temperature is experienced. With the onset of a favourable environment for the black rust organism, very little time remains for the development of the rust fungus before the crop reaches maturity. If infection does occur the probability for the survival and subsequent multiplication of black rust would be very low.

The inoculum built-up on the other hand in the south appears to be the principle source of black rust inoculum for the northern wheat crop. Prevalence of low temperatures in the north till late in the physiological life of the crop appears to be a vital factor in minimizing the black rust problem from this source of inoculum.

Among other factors which influence the black rust inoculum from the south, is the extensive areas of dryland in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. At times, under unfavourable conditions (dry spells) prevailing in this region, built-up of inoculum is substantially reduced, thereby minimising the danger to the crop in the north.

It appears that the Punjab area of North- West India would seldom be concerned with a serious black rust problem because of the unfavourable environment which exists for a long period of time. However, the Central and North-Eastern India could be subjected to severe black rust with very small changes in the environment if sufficient moisture was present. Even with the greater understanding of black rust epidemiology, this disease still must be considered potentially our most serious problem when viewing wheat production on a country-wide basis.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF Puccinia graminis VAR. tritici IN INDIA 453

The importance of the southern source of inoculum in the epidemiology of black rust has an important bearing on disease control. Varietal recommendations with black rust resistance is of major importance in this area. There are prospects of chemical or other control procedures as the area sown under wheat in the south is relatively small.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We wish to acknowledge the financial and professional assistance provided by the staff of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Ford Foundation.

REFERENCES

Anonymous. Climatological Tables of Observatories in India (1931-1960). Indian Meteorological Department, Government of India, DG 84/1200.

Mehta, K. C. (1940). Further studies on cereal rusts in India. Part 1. Sci. Monogr. Coun. agric, Res. India 14, 224 pp.

-- (1952). Further studies on cereal rusts in India. Part III. Sci. Monogr, Coun. agric.

Res. India, 18, 363 pp.

Misra, A. P. (1953). Influence of the suspension of summer cultivation of wheat and barley on the incidence of black rust. Indian J. agric. Sci., 23, 47-54.

Misra, D. P. (1965). Rusts connected with barberry in Central Nepal. Indian Phytopath., 18, 66-70.

Prasada, R. (1947). Discovery of the uredo stage connected with the accidia so commonly found on sp, of Berberis in the Simla Hills. Indian J. agric, Sci .• 17, 137-157.

Rowell, J. B., Olien C. R., and Wilcoxson, R. D. (1958). Effect of certain environmental conditions on infection of wheat by Puccinia graminis. Phytopathology, 48, 371-377.

Sharp, E. L., Schmitt, C. G., Staley, J. M., and Kingsolver, C. H. (1958). Some critical factors involved in establishment of Puccinia graminis var. tritici. Phytopathology, 48, 469-474.