Field Experiment To Evaluate The Response Of Different Varieties Of Wheat Against Loose Smut In Arghakhanchi District Of Nepal

One of the most serious foliar diseases limiting wheat productivity in Nepal is loose smut induced by Ustilago tritice. To assess how 12 wheat varieties responded to loose smut produced by Ustilago tritice, a field experiment was carried up in the field of Sandhikharka muncipality-1, Arghakhanchi, Nepal from 5 December 2022 to 10 April 2023. Three replications and 12 treatments were used in the randomized complete block design (RCBD) experiment. The size of each treatment plot was 2 m2, and the entire research field measured 152.5 m2. Double-digit scoring was used to determine the severity of the disease, commencing at the heading stage, with four scorings completed seven days apart in accordance with the Zadok scale. Leaf area (LA), plant height (PH), silk emergence per head, spike length (SL), smutted head(SH), number of spore masses per head, number of grains per spike, plot yield (PY), test weight, and thousand kernel weight (TKW) were among the features used to calculate the score. It was determined and examined what the mean AUDPC was. The mean AUDPC values varied substantially amongst the variations. The cultivars were divided into four groups based on their mean AUDPC values: resistant, moderately resistant, susceptible, and severely susceptible. The relationship between 12 types and the AUDPC and other features was also examined. Khumal shakti, one of 12 kinds, had the largest disease increase (AUDPC value: 859.73), making it the most vulnerable, while WK-1204 had the lowest (AUDPC value: 321.5), making it the most resistant. AUDPC values of 355.7, 368.3, and 365.2 for Annapurna, Zinc Gahun-1, and Zinc Gahun-2, respectively, were also discovered to be resistant to loose smut. No variants with great resistance were discovered. Similar to Swargadwari, Gautam, Tilottama, Vijaya, and Bhrikuti, these varieties showed some resistance to loose smut of wheat. Aditaya and Badhganga were prone to loose smut. Therefore, WK1204 performing better at Sandhikharka may be considered as the source of tolerance in further tests, while Khumal Shakti can be used as a susceptible check. These varieties can therefore be recommended for inclusion in breeding programs.