AN EFFICIENT MODIFIED METHOD OF ARTIFICIAL INOCULATION OF WHEAT EARS WITH LOOSE SMUT SPORE

ABHA MISHRA¹*
¹ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Narsinghpur, 487551, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Adhartal, Jabalpur, 482004, Madhya Pradesh, India
* Corresponding Author : skpyasi@gmail.com

Received : 22-01-2019     Accepted : 12-02-2019     Published : 15-02-2019
Volume : 11     Issue : 3       Pages : 7795 - 7796
Int J Agr Sci 11.3 (2019):7795-7796

Keywords : Wheat ear, Loose smut, Artificial inoculation
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Author is thankful to ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Narsinghpur, 487551, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Adhartal, Jabalpur, 482004, Madhya Pradesh, India
Author Contribution : Sole Author

For evolving resistant varieties of wheat against loose smut [Ustilago tritici (Pers.) Rostr.] artificial inoculation of ears by smut spores (dry or wet) is done by various methods. Under present study “Hypodermic Needle Method” of Poehlman (1945) was modified. Accordingly, hypodermic syringes were replaced by a pipette rubber bulb to which one hypodermic needle of 21 gauge was fitted. In hypodermic needle method, wheat ears were pre-treated before inoculation but in modified technique only awns of an ear were removed and other details of pre-treatment of ears avoided so as to provide natural conditions to the ears while inoculating. On maturity, inoculated ears of 12 varieties were harvested, hand threshed and stored in paper bags at room temperature (32-35°C). Next season, such inoculated seed was sown treatment wise separately. Ear emergence revealed that highest plant infection viz., 100% occurred under modified method and 50% in poehlman’s hypodermic needle method in the variety DL955-1. In the same variety smut sori on upper two leaves and proliferated smutted ears on top needles of infected plants developed in modified technique whereas in hypodermic needle method such symptoms did not occur. Out of 12 varieties, only 11 cultivars showed smutted ears and only smut sori on leaves of infected plants in the former while in the latter method, only smutted ears developed but smut sori on leaves did not express. Thus, modified hypodermic needle method proved to be more efficient, convenient and time saver in comparison to hypodermic needle method.

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