Epidemiological Studies on Various Weather Parameters for Development of Brown Spot Disease in Sugarcane

Abstract

Availability of susceptible host and prevalence of favorable weather condition play important role in the process of disease development, dissemination of diseases and favour epidemics. Epidemiological studies on brown spot disease of sugarcane will gave an idea about the time of occurrence, development, survival of the pathogen in nature and intensity of particular disease on specific location based on various weather parameters which may help us to formulate the management strategy. A field trial on epidemiological studies was conducted during Suru-2023 at Central Sugarcane Research Station, Padegaon farm, Tal. Phaltan Dist. Satara on highly susceptible cv. CoM 0265 in natural condition. Different weather parameters were explored by correlation and regression analysis to find out their contribution to infection and development of the brown spot disease of sugarcane. Epidemiological studies under field conditions revealed that, the first appearance of brown spot disease of sugarcane on susceptible cultivar CoM 0265 was recorded during third week of July. During 2023, correlation matrix showed that, maximum temperature, relative humidity (morning), and bright sunshine were the three significant factors that showed a significantly positive correlation. Rainfall also showed a positive correlation. However, minimum temperature, relative humidity (evening) and wind speed showed significantly negative correlation with correlation coefficient.