Leaf blight and leaf folder attack on Paddy in Punjab

Ludhiana, Aug 10 (UNI) Experts here are concerned over the pesticide resistant Leaf Blight attack in paddy in Punjab, as well as early infestation of rice leaf folder due to dry weather in the state.

The situation could lead to indiscriminate and unnecessary use of chemical pesticides pushed in by unscrupulous agents to exploit the plight of the farmers even though it would not be of much help to the farmers, the experts here said.

The plant clinic of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has come across many samples of Botanical Leaf Blight in paddy brought in here by the farmers.

Entomologist Dr N S Malhi said once this disease starts in paddy, there is no way to cure it in the crop. Therefore, the farmers should refrain from using chemicals being sold by unscrupulous agents.

In addition, rice leaf folder, which normally shows up during August-end till October, has already attacked the paddy crop at some locations in Punjab due to dry weather.

The larvae fold the leaves, eat out the green tissues and produce white streaks.

The experts have advised that the farmers should spray the paddy crop with 560 ml Nuvacron/Monocil 36 SL or one litre of Coroban/Durmet/Force 20 EC or 350 ml of Hostathion 40 EC per acre in 100 litres of water as soon as leaf damage under field conditions reaches 10 per cent.

However, experts warned that indiscriminate and unwanted use of pesticide was harmful to the natural enemy complex besides causing environment pollution in number of ways.

It had also been noticed that farmers were spraying the rice crop with mixtures of pesticides on the advice of pesticide dealers. The unscrupulous elements were selling synthetic pyrethaoids for getting these mixed with recommended pesticides to both mortality of target species.

The use of synthetic pyrethroids alone or mixing them with other insecticides was not recommended on rice as their use generally resulted in creating new pest problems like resurgence of leaf hoppers, plant hoppers and phytophagous mites.

Dr. Malhi stressed upon taking precautionary measures to combat the occurence of leaf blight in paddy. He warned against ponding of water in the field and application of excessive dose of nitrogen.

He also recommended treating the seed before sowing to kill primary innoculum and growing resistant varieties like PR 111, PR 113, PR 115 and PR 201 could help curb the problem.

UNI