EFFECT OF MANUAL SEED SORTING, SEED SOLARIZATION AND SEED TREATMENT WITH VITAVAX AND HOT WATER ON LEAF SPOT (Bipo/arls sorokiniana) AND GRAIN YIELD OF WHEAT

Abstract

In vitro and in vivo experiment were carried out to determine the effect of manual seed sorting, seed solarization and seed treatment with Vitavax and hot water on leaf spot (Bipolar is sorokiniana) and grain yield of wheat during the period from November-200S to April, 2006 at the farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka. The experiment was laid out in the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications, The highest reduction of incidence of seed-borne Bipolaris sorokiniana was obtained by manually sorted healthy looking seeds treated with Vitavax-200 (T4). Significant reduction of incidence of same fungus was achieved by treating seeds with hot' water and solar heat. Treatment of apparently healthy seed with Vitavax-200 (0.4%) was found best in reducing the leaf infection, increasing seed germination and increased seed yield which was followed by treatment of unclean seeds with Vitavax-200 (0.4%). Out of four physical seed treatment methods, solar heat treatment of apparently healthy seeds was found to be the best in reducing leaf infection, increasing seed germination and seed yield. Apparently healthy seed treated with hot water increased seed germination, seed yield and also reduced the leaf infection. Apparently healthy seeds showed more or less similar performances to that of apparently healthy seed treated with hot water. The rest of the treatments have some remarkable effect in controlling the disease and increasing seed yield of wheat.