SAVE POTATO CROP FROM LATE BLIGHT DISEASE: PAU

LUDHIANA, NOVEMBER 24:-----



Late blight disease of potato is one of the serious diseases, which if once appears, spreads in the entire field and causes serious threat to the yield of the crop. According to the survey conducted by the Department of Plant Pathology of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), it has been noticed that the disease has started appearing in some villages of Hoshiarpur district like Chakowal Brahman and Nasra. Revealing the information, the Head of Plant Pathology Department, Dr Pushpinder Singh has advised the farmers to keep on monitoring the fields regularly. About the disease symptoms, he told that the late blight disease initiates as water soaked irregular spots appear on the margin and tips of lower leaves. Under cool and moist weather conditions, these spots or lesions enlarge rapidly and turn dark brown to black in colour. He told that the lower surface of these lesions develop whitish colony growth of fungus, which is evident during morning hours. Impressing upon the farmers to adopt the timely control measures, Dr Singh suggested spraying the potato crop with fungicide such as Indofil M-45 or Antracol or Kavach @ 500-700 g in 250 -350 litres of water per acre. Dr Singh said that it has been observed that many farmers spray the crop with Carbondiazm, which has not been recommended by the PAU. For the late blight disease management, he urged the farmers to follow PAU recommended fungicides for spray.
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