Optimization of environmental factors conducive for stripe rust of wheat

Abstract

Wheat rusts are the significant diseases of wheat crop and potential threats worldwide. Among all major wheat diseases occurring in all wheat growing areas of the world, yellow rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici is a big hazard when it occurs in severe condition. The susceptible germplasm and conducive environmental conditions contribute towards wide outbreak of rust diseases. In the present study, eight wheat lines were screened out and correlated with epidemiological factors (temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and wind speed). Results showed that maximum disease severity was observed at minimum and maximum temperature ranging from 13.7-16.7 and 23.5-27.65 0C respectively. Their disease severity was increased with increase in relative humidity ranging from 52-64 %. Similarly, rain fall ranging from 5.7-21.99 mm and wind speed 6.88-11.73 km/h respectively proved conducive for yellow rust development in Sargodha. A positive correlation was observed between disease severity and all environmental factors.