SALIENT ACHIEVEMENTS DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS-

• The Department of Plant Pathology decoded the mystery of dwarfing in rice during kharif 2022. Southern Rice Black Streaked Dwarf Virus was identified to be associated with dwarfing phenomenon for the first time in India

• Patent granted- Electric soil disinfector has been developed to disinfect soil from soil borne fungal and nematode pathogens especially for net /poly houses

• Forewarning system for yellow rust of wheat based on weather has been developed using ‘Fundamental Approach’. This will help in timely management of disease in Punjab based on weather predictions

• Since 2015-16 wheat crop season, extensive monitoring of yellow rust of wheat conducted in collaboration with personnel from Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Punjab, lead to effective management of this diseases.

• Detached tiller culture technique developed for rapid screening for sheath blight and bacterial foot rot diseases in rice.

• Standardized Leaf Bait method for detection of Phytophthora parasitica from soil of citrus nurseries and certification of nurseries in Punjab was undertaken. Samples analysed for citrus greening using standardized molecular detection with PCR and the samples from Hoshiarpur and Abohar areas were found positive.

• Trichoderma harzianum strain was recommended to the farmers for the control of foot rot of basmati rice and for commercial production-sale licensing done with International Panaccia Ltd., New Delhi.A potent isolate of this bioagent has also been identified for managing muskmelon wilt and Phytophthora foot rot of kinnow.

• Web based decision support system developed using regression model based on weather parameters for timely management of late blight of potato in Punjab making rational use of fungicides and saved crores of rupees using less sprays.

• After extensive monitoring coupled with diagnostic work, Punjab has been established as Pest Free Area for two quarantine diseases, brown rot and ring rot of potato that would facilitate fresh potato export.

• Effective management of root knot nematode through sunhemp green manuring. Garlic inter-cropping and marigold green manuring provided effective control of root knot nematode in vegetables.

• For the integrated management of potato scab, green manuring with sunhemp or summer mungbean was recommended

• During the last five years, many new recommendations were developed for effective management of serious disease problems in wheat (yellow rust), rice (sheath blight, foot rot, false smut, rice blast), rapeseed (Alternaria blight), potato (late blight, black scurf), brinjal (root knot nematode), kinnow (foot rot, fruit drop, sooty mould) and grape (anthracnose). The disease control recommendations relied on need-based use of safe fungicides of different chemical classes, biological control and cultural practices.