ECOLOGY OF GERMINATION OF THE TELIOSPORE OF KARNAL-BUNT PATHOGEN (NEOVOSSIA-INDICA)

An experiment was conducted during 1988 at Ludhiana to study the ecolo gy of germination of the teliospore of kamal-bunt pathogen [Neovossia indica (Mitra) Mundkur]. The soil texture had no effect on the teliosp ore germination. The teliospores germinated at temperature range of 10 -25-degrees-C on the soil surface. Though teliospores germinated at 5- 40% soil-moisture content, 15% soil moisture gave the highest (35%) ge rmination. An exposure of fresh teliospores to dry heat at 100-degrees -C for 10 min improved the germination by 1 327.8% compared with that of the control. Teliospores could tolerate a temperature of 110-degree s-C for 6 hr. Alternate exposure to dry heat (80-degrees-C and high re lative humidity 100%) also improved their germination (82.7%). An expo sure of blue light for 6 hr improved the germination by 78%, but for 1 4 hr proved lethal. The soil application of butachlor (Machete 50 EC) @ 500 ppm significantly increased the spore germination (74.4%). The r oot exudates of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czemj. & Cosson] reduced the teliospore germination by 96.3%.