Distribution and Association of Fungal Pathogen with Black Point of Wheat Disease in Maharashtra State Borkar S. G., Choudhary K.N., Patil P.D, Sonawane R.B. Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri Dist. Ahmednagar (M.S.) Abstract Black point of wheat is an important disease of wheat grain worldwide, affecting the marketable price of wheat as well as the flour quality. Monitoring incidence of black point of wheat in various wheat field, in Krishi Mandis, with wheat traders and individual farmers in 17 wheat growing districts of Maharashtra state during 2002–2005 and detection of fungi associated with 444 seed samples of different whe r aarieties showed that in northern Maharashtra (Jalgaon, Dhule, Nandurbar and Nashik districts) the black point percentage ranged from 1 to 8 % and was maximum in Jalgaon district; whereas in western Maharashtra (Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur and Ahmednagar district) it ranged from 1 to 4%. In Marathwada region (Aurangabad) it was 1 % whereas in Vidarbha region (Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Akola, Amaravati and Wardha) it ranged from 1 to 9 % and was maximum in Nagpur district. At various locations maximum infection of black point was observed on variety Lok -1 followed by HD-2189 and other varieties. The fungi associated with black point infection were Alternaria tritici and Bipolaris sorokiniana and the percent association with wheat seed sample varied from district to district. In some district only Altarnaria was present on black point infection whereas in other district it was accompanied by Bipolaris. Disease free areas for black point infection (where no black point was observed on seed samples) are also observed in every district of Maharastra state which can be used from black point disease free wheat production. Top Keywords Black point of wheat, distribution, Association of pathogen. Top |