NEWS – The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, has developed biocontrol agent Trichoderma asperellum (2% WP), and registered it with the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIBRC) against footrot

FOOT ROT

• About
  • Fungal disease affecting Basmati rice crops.
  • Primarily impacts seedling stage but can continue post-transplantation.
• Causes and Symptoms
  • Caused by Fusarium verticillioides, a soil-seed borne pathogen.
  • Spreads through roots, colonizes stem base, leading to yellowing, elongation, and drying of seedlings.
• Current Management Practices
  • Preventive Measures
    • Early seedling treatment.
    • Use of disease-free seeds.
    • Destruction of infected seedlings.
  • Timely Nursery Management
    • Seed sowing in June’s first fortnight.
    • Transplantation in July (avoid May sowing due to high temperatures favoring disease).
    • Well-drained fields with proper irrigation for nursery setup.
  • Chemical Treatments (Issues and Alternatives)
    • Current use of Trichoderma harzianum for seedling treatment.
    • Seeds treated with Sprint 75 WS (carbendazim + mancozeb) before sowing.
    • Concerns about chemical treatments’ harm to soil and toxicity for consumers.
    • Ban on carbendazim in Punjab due to high residues.

PAU’S BIOCONTROL AGENT SOLUTION

• Eco-Friendly Nature: Non-chemical alternative, minimizes environmental harm.
• Effectiveness: Showed excellent results in combating foot rot without harmful residues.
• Development: Joint effort by Dr Narinder Singh and Dr Daljeet Singh Buttar.

Benefits and Impact

• Reduced Yield Loss: Prevents yield loss due to foot rot, improves export prospects.
• Eco-Safety: Eco-friendly approach, reduces soil and consumer toxicity.
• Experimental Success: Showed excellent results during experimental phase.