Wheat Stripe Rust and Its Geospatial Variation in the Jhelum District of Pakistan

Abstract

Foliar rust disease is a real threat to the wheat crop of Pakistan from few last years. Humid conditions are very favorable for the proliferation of the stripe rust especially in the rain-fed region of the Punjab. This piece of research is done to find the hotspots of the stripe rust in the Jhelum district. Two surveys were conducted for the primary and secondary data collection. Thirty two samples were collected. Threshold values were obtained by using ArcGIS 10.2 application to generate baseline hotspot maps. No one village or district could be highlighted as hot or cold spot, as it changes every year. Increased temperature and heavy rainfall played a very crucial role in spreading of this disease. Intensity of rainfall ranges from 94.6%-140% in month of February which highly thrives the stripe rust by providing moist conditions. Optimal temperature range for wheat crop growth was found as 12°C to 25°C. Hailstorms also badly inflicted damage to the wheat crop especially at some places at the Dina tehsil of Jhelum district.