Molaya disease of wheat

C/O: Heterodera avenae

• Nematodal infection of wheat, obligate parasite.
• 2^nd stage juvenile is infective.
• Cyst nematode

Symptoms:

• resembles to water or nutrient deficiency and any other physiological disorder.
• Generally above ground symptoms are not identifiable and can be easily misunderstood with any other pathogen.
• Above ground symptoms: Nematode Infested plant may show yellowing (Fig. 1) and stunted growth in patches due to cluster distribution of the nematode. Tillering is greatly reduced.
• Below ground symptoms: Roots become typically bushy with slight swelling marking at the site of nematode infection. But during the Jan./Feb., the white glistening like female.

Management:

• Deep summer ploughing .
• Crop rotation
• Adjusting time of planting: planted up to 15th November when soil temperature is low and at that time the nematodes are not active.
• Use resistance varities: Raj MR-1 is the resistant variety of wheat and BH 75 and BH 393 of barley.
• Seed Treatment: treated with Azotika (Azotobacter chroococcum) HT-54 @ 50 ml per 10 kg seeds.