Early detection and management of white uust disease (Albugo candida) in rapeseed-mustard

Abstract

The early detection of Albugo candida was done by PCR-based assay and light microscopy. In PCR based assay the
primers ITS1 (3’-GAGGGACTTTTGGGTAATCA-5’) and Short ITS JV34 (3’-CGCCATTTAGAGGAAGGTGA-5’) and
JV37 (3’-GTCAAGCAAAACAT-5’) were used to amplify the ITS region of A. candida and Alternaria brassicae. PCR
amplification of A. candida from inoculated symptomatic and asymptomatic leaves yielded PCR products of 1200 bp and
600 bp of ITS1 and Short ITS primers, respectively whereas no bands were amplified in A. brassicae. This confirmed the
presence of A. candida in asymptomatic inoculated leaves at early stages i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 days after inoculation
(DAI). In light microscopy the presence of pathogen structures were observed from inoculated symptomatic and
asymptomatic inoculated leaves. The presence of pathogen structure viz. mycelium and sporangia was observed in
asymptomatic leaves at early stages i.e. at 6,7,8 and 9 DAI ,in symptomatic leaves at 10 and 11 DAI and no fungal
structures in healthy mustard leaves after staining with 1 percent cotton blue in lacto phenol and 0.4% trypan blue.
During evaluation of rapeseed-mustard germplasm it has been observed that some Brassica germplasm escaped from
the white rust disease in field found susceptible in glasshouse at both the stages (EC-399299) or only at true leaf stage
(Katili local, Eruca sativa, Basanti and Banarasi rai, PWR-14-8, PWR-14-9, PWR-14-10, PWR-14-11, RMT-1-10-1, IC
597942 and IC265495). The study revealed that for the confirmation of resistant sources, it is very essential to evaluate
Brassica germplasm first in field and then in glasshouse at both the stages i.e. at cotyledonary and true leaf stage under
high disease pressure. Among various fungicides Metalaxyl 8% + Mancozeb 64% (Ridomil MZ @ 0.25%) and a biological
origin Azoxystrobin (Amistar 25 EC @ 0.1%) were found highly effective in inhibiting sporangial germination in-vitro
and in controlling white rust disease (no occurrence of disease) in glasshouse and in field.