The Hindu Business Line : Absence of disease, pests adds to bumper wheat hopes

Scientists at the Directorate of Wheat Research, Karnal (DWR) were concerned about the threat of yellow rust, particularly a new virulent race of the fungus, called `78S84'. "This time, there has been no incidence of yellow rust in the areas that we have surveyed. The new strain, even if it strikes towards end-March, will not cause any problem. Our concern was about it happening in February, which could be serious," said Dr Arun Kumar Sharma, Principal Investigator (Crop Protection), DWR.

Early infestation

In case of early infestation, rust pathogens are known to cause yield losses of up to 20-30 per cent in wheat. The country's most popular variety, PBW-343 (cultivated in over six million hectares or 80 per cent of the wheat area of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh), is supposed to be specifically vulnerable to the `78S84' race. "We have not so far recorded any form of yellow, brown or black rust on farmers' fields. And that is a good sign," Dr Sharma added.

Meanwhile, the prolonged dry spell right till end-January is expected to cause some yield loss in the rainfed wheat grown in most of Central India (Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat). But this could nevertheless be offset by the additional 10 lakh hectares that has come under wheat there this time. Also, February rains have eased the moisture stress in the region, where the crop matures by end-March and the grain filling stage is complete.

But it is the main Indo-Gangetic wheat belt that holds the real key to a bountiful harvest. And here, the consensus view is that the crop is in very good condition.