Karnal Bunt: The Hidden Threat Devastating Wheat Crops in Western UP

• Karnal Bunt, a dangerous fungal disease caused by Tilletia indica, affects wheat crops in Western UP, particularly during ear emergence in January and February.
• The disease is soil-borne, spreading spores from the ground to the female florets, causing wheat grains to partially turn black and emit a foul, fishy odor.
• Karnal Bunt is not visible in standing fields; its effects become apparent only after threshing, leading to reduced crop quality and lower market prices.
• Light rain and cloudy, moist conditions during the boot stage favor the spread of this disease, which can recur annually due to spores falling back into the field.
• Farmers can combat Karnal Bunt using Trichoderma, a cost-effective home remedy prepared with jaggery, gram flour, and water, or by applying Trichoderma harzianum mixture to the field.

Why It Matters: Karnal Bunt, a hidden fungal disease, devastates wheat quality; farmers can prevent it using Trichoderma.