Perpetuation of rice blast pathogen (Magnaporthe grisea) under temperate conditions of Kashmir, India

Abstract

Investigations were carried out during the months of October to March on various common specimens viz, paddy straw, stubbles, weed straw, soil, rice residue (husk), seeds and undecomposed organic material to ascertain the perpetuation of blast pathogen (M. grisea) under temperate conditions. The results indicate that in all the samples collected, highest frequency (14.15%) of blast pathogen (M. grisea) was recorded in the month of October. However, month of March showed least occurrence (2.50%). Among collected samples, maximum perpetuation of blast pathogen (M. grisea) was exhibited by stubbles (14.35%) followed by paddy straw (12.37%) and the minimum were exhibited in undecomposed material (1.60%), followed by weed straw (3.40%) and soil (5.8%). It was concluded that these studied components are the possible sources of perpetuation for rice blast pathogen.