~ 21 ~  The Pharma Innovation Journal 2018; 7(2): 21-26 21-26 ISSN (E): 2277- 7695 ISSN (P): 2349-8242 NAAS Rating: 5.03 TPI 2018; 7(2): 21-26 © 2018 TPI www.thepharmajournal.com Received: 14-12-2017 Accepted: 15-01-2018 DN Shukla Department of Plant Pathology, Narendra Dev University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, India Pankaj Tiwari Department of Plant Pathology, Narendra Dev University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, India JP Srivastava Department of Plant Pathology, Narendra Dev University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, India Correspondence DN Shukla Department of Plant Pathology, Narendra Dev University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, India Incidence of Karnal bunt in eastern Uttar Pradesh and its effect on seed quality DN Shukla, Pankaj Tiwari and JP Srivastava Abstract Karnal bunt caused by Tilletia indica Mitra (Neovossia indica Mitra (Mundkur) was first recorded in April, 1930 from Botanical Research Station, Karnal (Haryana) on wheat cultivar, foundation and Punjab A. The disease was prevalent in the sub continent since long, infecting native wheats grown over North Western India but it never caused serious yield reduction. However, the disease appeared in serious proportions in early 1970s with the introduction of dwarf Mexican Wheat Varieties into India and Pakistan. Till 1974-75 the disease remained restricted to Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Tarai region of Uttar Pradesh. In some places, it appeared in the epidemic form in different years. In the absence of strict domestic quarantine regulation it spreaded to new areas in North Western Wheat belt. However, Madhya Pradesh, southern Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Peninsular India are free from Karnal bunt due to high temperatures. It is also reported from Nepal, Iran, Mexico, United States, South Africa, Brazil, Afganistan, Syria, Turkey, Lebnan, Sweden, Poland, Itlay.The pathogen is floral infecting organism that partially infects seeds of bread wheat, duram wheat and also the triticale. Not all the spikes on a plant are infected and within a spike only a few spikelets are bunted. Keywords: Karnal bunt, 1000 grain Weight (g), Germination (%), Seedling vigour 1. Introduction Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) continues to be the most dynamic sector in world grain production and India is the second largest producer, preceded only by China and major contributor to the agricultural economy of the country. It is the staple food and major source of energy and nutrition of Indian diet. It is known for its remarkable adoption to a wide range of environment. Its importance derived from the properties of their glutin, cohesive network of tuft endosperm protein, starch with the expansion of fermentations dough. It is utilized for bread, cakes, cokies, noodles, pestri-products, chapatti & macaroni etc. Wheat grain contains 60-68% starch, 8.0 to 15% protein, 1.5 to 2.0% fat, 2.0-2.5% cellulose and 1.5 to 2.0% minerals [19] . Karnal bunt [14, 15] , new bunt [11, 12, 13] or partial bunt [6] of wheat was first discovered by Mitra in April 1930 in the experimental seed material grown at the Botanical Station, Karnal and was reported by him in 1931. In India, Karnal bunt is particularly prevalent in the tarai and high fertility irrigated areas of north west plains. However, parts of Madhya Pradesh, Southern Rajasthan, Maharastra & penninsular India are free from Karnal bunt as the temperature are higher in the areas. Incidence of Karnal bunt is erratic in eastern India and seldom exceeds traces to very low level of infections. Karnal bunt is a disease of wheat, durum, rye and triticale. Though the disease native to South Asia but subsequently it has been reported from Iran, Syria, Afganistan, Iraq, Mexico, Nepal and United States. Besides yield losses, Karnal bunt can reduce wheat flour quality due to fishy, unpalatable odour and taste, if a grain lot contains 1-4 per cent infected seed. If in a grain lot 5 percent of the grain infested, the quality of the flour recovery and chemical changes in composition of flour and gluten contents cause poor dough strength. Karnal bunt is also a disease of quarantine interest and it affects the international trade of commercial wheat grain and movement of wheat germplasm throughout the world. Thus, presence of diseased grain in wheat lots can cause economic loss to wheat exporting countries. Therefore, it is important to find out the incidence and its efficacy on seed quality. 2. Material and method Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad has a well equipped notified Seed Testing Laboratory under the Department of Seed Science & Technology.