RELATION BETWEEN WEATHER PARAMETERS AND KARNAL-BUNT (NEOVOSSIA-INDICA) IN WHEAT (TRITICUM-AESTIVUM)

An experiment was conducted to study the relation between weather para meters and karnal bunt [Neovossia indica (Mitra) Mundkur] of wheat (Tr iticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.). The relation obtained betwee n the meteorological parameters and the average infection of karnal bu nt in wheat was weak for standard meteorological weeks 7 and 8. Howeve r, the occurrence of rains during standard meteorological week 9 resul ted in substantial change of R(2) (coefficient of determination) value s of meteorological parameters like maximum temperature (0.5-0.6) and relative humidity at evening (0.6-0.7). Multiple regression models hav e better applicability and by use of 3 or 4 meteorological parameters one may predict the karnal bunt infection with reasonable reliability. The multiple regression model using different weather parameters for standard week 12 was found the best.