Assessment of wheat foliar mycoflora and its management strategies in District Bhimber, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan

Abstract

In this research, an analysis of wheat foliar mycoflora was explored with detection of 21 foliar fungal species from eight cultivated varieties in the wheat fields of District Bhimber of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. Out of 21 species, 19 were isolated from three wheat varieties viz: V1 (Fareed-2006), V3 (Lasani-2008) and V6 (Aas 2011). Wheat variety V8 (Galaxy-2013) showed less number (28.5%) of fungal species invasion. Mycosphaerella graminicola was present ubiquitously on all eight wheat varieties with 100% prevalence while Cephalosporium gramineum was only found on three wheat varieties with 37.5%. The minimum occurrence was shown by fungus Nigrospora sphaerica (15%). In sub-division Samahni, wheat variety Fareed-2006 (V1) depicted the highest disease susceptibility with incidence of 63.3%. The variety Galaxy-2013 was found the best crop in Samahni having least incidence value of 22.3%. In sub-division Bhimber, wheat variety Seher-2006 was the most affected by mycoflora having highest disease incidence (60.0%) while least infection was measured in Galaxy-2013 (20.9%), being appropriate varietal crop for the area. In Barnala sub-division, Fareed-2006 indicated highest disease incidence (59.7%) while minimum disease incidence was measured in Galaxy-2013 (29.7%). As general conclusion Galaxy-2013 was proved as the best crop variety in the study area being nonth or least infected by fungal taxa. In second aspect of experiment comprising of optimization of management and control strategies, the parameter of grain yield was measured. As a general without any pre-treatment of seed crop, the variety V8 was the best of with yield of 1543 kg/ha, that might be due to its genetic resistance or better eco-climatic adaptability. Out of applied management strategies; use of fungicides (Quadris and Headline) spray on wheat leaves proved to be better having rise of yield i.e., 1550 kg/ha and 1560 kg/ha, respectively. The other strategy: use of biological products i.e. different plant extracts (Acacia nilotica, Azadirachta indica, Curcuma longa, Eucaylptus citriodora, Ficus bengalensis) spray proved that landmark rise was obtained in yield from variety V8 with 1739 kg/ha as compared to others. This rise was huge (1739 kg/ha) in comparison to the without treatment crop having 1543 kg/ha yield and it was proved pre-treatment produces better crop than control (blank) sample culminating the result that use of bio-products (plant extracts) are the best for control and management of mycoflora of wheat.