Study of bakanae disease of rice in Haryana

Roving surveys conducted during 2014–2016 in seven major rice growing districts of Haryana revealed that Basmati and non-Basmati (inbreds and hybrids) varieties occupied 72% and 28% of the total rice area, respectively. Among Basmati varieties, Pusa Basmati 1121 was the most widely cultivated variety (42%). Average incidence of bakanae (Fusarium moniliforme) was the highest during 2014 and decreased during 2015 and 2016 particularly in Kaithal, Kurukshetra and Sirsa districts. The average disease incidence was the highest in variety Pusa Basmati 1121 in all the districts except Sonepat. Artificially infected seeds of Pusa Basmati 1121, when sown, resulted in 45.4% infected seedlings. The disease spread from infected to healthy seedlings ranged between 4.4–6.9%. The disease incidence was significantly higher during 2014 over 2015 and in sowing of seeds in puddled nursery beds than in dry beds both in varieties Pusa Basmati 1121 and Basmati CSR 30. Dry seed treatment with carbendazim at 2 g/kg seed proved equally effective to seed soaking for 24 hours in carbendazim suspension at 1 g/l water/kg seed.