A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org>
Date: May 2, 2008
Source: Hindustan Times [edited]
<http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=eb2c1959-8dc1-482a-b0d0-26866b9584c1>
According to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, the
proliferation of viruses in agriculture and horticulture has
been alarming over past years. In 1939, there were 89 known
viruses; in 1991, they were estimated at 700, and in 2005, at
1200.
Last year [2007], Omkar Singh's wheat crop began shrinking in
the UP [Uttar Pradesh] countryside. He lives in Raipur Babu
village, 40 km
(25 mi) north of Lucknow [capital of Uttar Pradesh]. Singh's
crops began showing strange signs of poor growth. "We wondered
if we hadn't used the right amount of sulphur or if there'd been
a loss of zinc in our soil. We did everything we could. We
finally realised it was a new virus that had caused knots at the
bottom of the stem, causing it to shrink."
[Byline: Neelesh Misra]
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[While there are over 55 viruses known to affect wheat, the
symptoms described above do not seem to match diseases caused by
any of them.
Generally, "knots" on lower stems are more often a symptom of
soil-borne fungal pathogens, nematodes, or even due to pest
damage.
We would be most grateful for any further information on the
wheat disease that is being reported here as emerging in Uttar
Pradesh.
Maps
India:
<http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/images/IndiaMap_tourism.gif>
and
<http://healthmap.org/promed?v=22.9,79.6,5>
Uttar Pradesh districts:
<http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/uttarpradesh/uttar-pradesh-district.htm>
Links
List of wheat diseases and pathogens:
<http://www.apsnet.org/online/common/names/wheat.asp>
Diseases, pests, and disorders of wheat (with pictures):
<http://cril.cimmyt.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=934>
Review of wheat viruses:
<http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/crops/g04318.htm>
and <http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/006/Y4011E/y4011e0o.htm>.
- Mod.DHA]
