TITLE:
Impact of Climate Change on Epidemiology of Various Pests of Wheat Crop in Punjab Pakistan
AUTHORS:
Israr Arshad, Amer Rasul, Syed Ismat Hussain, Hafiz Muhammad Usman Aslam, Khizar Hayat, Malik Najam Ul Hassan, Sidra Muqeet, Amina, Yasir Umar, Shabab Nasir, Anum Tehseen
KEYWORDS:
Climate Change, Wheat, Weeds, Insect Pest, Disease Ecology
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.10 No.1,
January
25,
2019
ABSTRACT: Wheat [Triticum aestivum L.
(Poaceae)] is the staple diet of people in Pakistan. It is attacked by many
types of pests. Therefore the purpose of this study was to assess the impact of
climate change on the ecology and epidemiology of various wheat pests in
Punjab, Pakistan. Results indicate that maximum weeds hot spots 242 (5.98%) Phalaris minor, 45
(1.18%) wild oat and 203 (5.01%) broad leaf weeds were noted in 2015. Aphid 31
(0.86%) hot spots were recorded in 2016 while maximum army worm 13 (0.26%) hot
spots were noted in 2017. Maximum 70 (1.73%) spots of yellow rust and 85
(2.10%) hot spots of brown rust were observed during 2015 while 84 (4.16%)
spots of loose smut were observed during 2017. ANOVA shows that years have no
significant difference (P > 0.05) but weeks have significant effect on
occurrence of these pest incidences except brown rust. But regression ANOVA was
significant (P ≤ 0.05) and regression models equations have been developed on
the bases of recorded data. Pest incidence was taken as dependent variable Y
and weather factors i.e. minimum temperature as X1,
maximum temperature as X2, relative humidity as X3 and
rain fall as X4 were taken as independent variables. This study will
help in recommendations for moving forward aiming at integration of biology of
rust and smut diseases of wheat with changing climate for development of
resistant varieties for resilient and durable management of these pathogens.