MAJOR DISEASES OF WHEAT AND THEIR MANAGEMENT: A REVIEW

Abstract

Wheat is the staple crop throughout the world and a great source of nutrition. Sometimes the wheat plant gets attacked by pathogens like fungi, bacteria and virus. Some of the common disease their symptoms and management are studied. The complexity of the interaction between a pathogen and its host, influenced by biotic and abiotic factors of the environment, make the control of these disease. Fungi is the most common causative agent in case of wheat. Some of the common disease caused by fungi are leaf rust, stem rest, stripe rust, loose smut, tan spot, powdery mildew, ergot and common bunt. Virus and bacteria also cause diseases in wheat. Wheat strike mosaic virus one of the diseases is bacterial blight of leaf. These diseases can be controlled by using disease resistant varieties. Due to the infection of these diseases there can be loss of 40-50% but sometimes it may be more. These diseases can be controlled by using some control measures. There are several chemical and herbal methods are used for the control of these diseases.