Take timely measures to coml potato late blight

摘要

Late blight is one of the most important diseases of potato affecting its cultivation in the state of Punjab and can result into total crop failures in a short period if suitable control measures are not adopted in time. It is caused by a fungus Phytophthora infestans. During epidemic years, losses in potato yield can go as high as 80 per cent. The surveys conducted by Department of Plant Pathology have helped to clearly locate the disease prone and comparatively disease free areas for late blight inthe state. The surveys in the past several years have revealed that this disease causes more loss in the districts of Hoshiarpur, Jalandharand Kapurthala. Hoshiarpuris generally considered to be the hot spot for this disease. The disease is first observed in certain pockets of district Hoshiarpur like Sham Chaurasi, Mehtiana, Phuglana and areas around Tanda, which further spreads to adjoining regions under favourable weather conditions. In districts like Ludhiana, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Moga and Sangrur, the disease is generally noticed in moderate incidence. The South-Western districts such as Bathinda, Faridkot and Ferozepur remain relatively free from this disease. In 2017-18, the potato crop was relatively free from attack of late blight throughout Punjab.