LAHORE: The Punjab Agriculture Department has reported the presence of rust disease in wheat crops across different districts.
According to the Pest Warning & Quality Control of Pesticides, the infection level is currently low.
A department spokesperson stated that yellow rust thrives in temperatures between 10 to 20°C. It mainly affects wheat leaves but can spread to spikes in severe cases.
Yellow rust appears as small yellow spots in parallel rows on the leaves. Under epidemic conditions, it causes more damage than brown rust, leading to yield losses of 20% to 50%.
Brown rust, on the other hand, spreads at temperatures between 20 to 25°C. It also affects the leaves but appears as irregular brown spots instead of parallel rows. If it infects the crop early, it weakens plant growth and disrupts food production.
Flag leaves, essential for providing nutrients to wheat spikes, suffer from the disease, reducing yield. In epidemic situations, brown rust can cut wheat production by up to 30% per acre.
The Agriculture Department advises farmers to check their crops regularly for rust symptoms.
If infected leaves are found, they should be carefully removed, placed in a plastic bag, and buried in the soil. Farmers are also urged to follow recommended pesticide schedules and consult agricultural experts for proper fungicide application.
