Plant diseases cause 26 per cent loss in crop yield

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

Ludhiana, July 15: Plant diseases, which cause losses upto 26 per cent in yields, impair the quality of produce to the disadvantage of producers as well as consumers.

This was stated by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Vice Chancellor Dr M S Kang, at a national symposium on "Role of disease-free seed in sustainable agriculture" held at PAU yesterday.

The symposium was organized by Department of Plant Pathology in collaboration with Indian Society of Plant Pathologists (ISOPP).

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Kang said recent advancements in research made early-detection of pathogens possible which further facilitated their timely management. The identification of weak-links in the life cycles of several dreaded pathogens helped in selecting efficient disease management strategies and in arresting their further development and spread, he added.

Focusing on seed as a critical input in agriculture, Dr Kang informed that it served as the main source of pathogen survival and carryover in a number of economically important crop diseases.

In some cases, infected seeds could be the source of mycotoxins that could develop during storage.

Development and spread of several diseases could be prevented if due care was taken to use certified disease-free seed from reliable agencies, he opined.

Dr Kang cited several examples to show how diseases were introduced in a region or country through movement of plant materials for trade. Potato late blight, coffee rust, downy mildew of grapes, sigatoka of banana etc were introduced into India from outside alongwith planting materials.

Linking this aspect to the present day WTO scenario, Dr Kang emphasised the need for ensuring export/import of disease-free seed and for restricting the establishment of exotic pathogens especially in the era of growing air-traffic across continents.

On use of pesticides, Dr Kang revealed that the state's current consumption stood at 17 per cent of the total pesticides used in India. Of this, more than 90 per cent was being used in cotton, rice and vegetables. The Malwa region accounted for nearly 75 per cent of pesticides used in Punjab. The decrease in pesticide consumption since 2003-04 could be attributed to the introduction of Bt cotton, integrated pest management and awareness among farmers, as PAU and state government had been promoting bio-pesticides.

Suggesting strengthening of plant quarantine measures, both at national and international level, Dr Kang stressed that these were required to prevent introduction of new pathogens through planting materials.

There was a need to identify, through organised surveillance, pathogen-free areas where crops could be grown free from disease.

Similarly, it was equally important to ensure that the crop produce intended for export was disease-free, strictly as per quarantine needs of the importing country, he clarified.

Molecular-biological methods and bio-technological tools could give impetus to plant pathology research, he added. He advocated need-based re-orientation of curricula for teaching plant pathology.

He also stressed the strengthening of information and communication component in technology transfer to farmers.

Earlier, DrS K Mann, Head, Department of Plant Pathology and President ISOPP, in her welcome address pointed out that out of 25 major diseases in plants, 12 were seed-borne and the emphasis should be on minimizing these. She felt that investment on disease-free seed made sound economic sense as it was cost-effective, saved environment as least amount of fungicide was used and prevented subsequent economic losses as the crop started with zero inoculum load.

UNI

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