Potato late blight disease prediction using meteorological parameters in Northern Himalayas of India

W A Dar W A Dar,B A Bhat B A Bhat,F A Parry F A Parry

doi:10.54386/jam.v23i3.35

Abstract

Weather parameters play an important role in the spread of potato late blight of caused by Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary has historically been serious disease of potatoes through worldwide, including India. Due to spatial variation in prevailing weather conditions, its severity varies from region to region. Disease development process and the weather parameters are well understood and have been utilized for disease developing forecasting models and decision support system. Therefore, an experiment was conducted for two consecutive cropping seasons (2017 & 2018) to develop a forecasting model against late blight of potato using stepwise regression analysis for Northern Himalayas in India. Maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and wind speed appeared to be most significant factors in the potato late blight disease development. The meteorological conditions conducive for the development of potato late blight disease were characterized. Maximum and minimum temperatures in the range of 15.0 – 28.0°C and 2.0 – 12.0°C were found favorable for potato blight disease. Similarly, relative humidity, rainfall and wind speed in the range of 85 - 95 per cent, 15.5 - 20.75 mm and 1.0 - 5.5 Km h-1, respectively, were conducive for potato late blight disease which are helpful in disease development.

Highlights

Late blight of potato is caused by Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, is a devastating disease of major concern all over the world which causes heavy losses of potato
area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) values for each variety were computed based on lesion number and per cent leaf area covered data
Minimum temperature 130C and 15.5 along with minimum relative humidity 75% and 78% was recorded in the early stages of infection process and maximum temperature 28 and 30.6 along with

Summary

Introduction

Late blight of potato is caused by Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, is a devastating disease of major concern all over the world which causes heavy losses of potato. The severity of a potato late blight disease outbreak is strongly influenced by prevailing environmental conditions on the pathogen lifecycle and its aggressiveness within the local pathogenic population (Doster, 1989). Economic importance of this disease in different regions resulted that the disease takes the highest toll of potato in Sub-Saharan Africa (44% crop loss) followed by South-East Asia (35% crop loss). There is a need to develop forecast/warning services for predicting the time of appearance of disease and optimizing use of fungicides without risking the crop and human health. Present examinations will help to forecast the late blight of potato in Northern Himalaya in India and assist the growers for spray schedule and reduces the costs involved by eliminating the unnecessary sprays and

Methods

Results

Conclusion