Crop Diseases Research in Pakistan
CROP DISEASES RESEARCH INSTITUTE
SARC, Karachi, Pakistan
INTRODUCTION
The Crop Diseases Research Institute was established in 1962 at Karachi. The location Karachi was selected because of highly conducive climatic condition for the study of leaf rust/brown rust (Puccinia recondita), stem rust (Puccinia graminis). At present this institute consists of three laboratories, Rust Pathology, Seed Pathology and Nematology.
The Crop Diseases Research Institute was established in 1962 at Karachi. The location Karachi was selected because of highly conducive climatic condition for the study of leaf rust/brown rust (Puccinia recondita), stem rust (Puccinia graminis). At present this institute consists of three laboratories, Rust Pathology, Seed Pathology and Nematology.
The CDRI Karachi conducts research
on identification of sources of resistant to major diseases of wheat and barley
under National Wheat Diseases Screening Nursery (NWDSN), National Uniform Wheat
Yield Trial (NUWYT) and screening of international nurseries, pathotype and
virulence analysis of rust to monitor the changes in pathogenicity through
Wheat Rust Trap Nursery (WRTN) and rust resistant gene postulation in wheat
germplasm and commercial cultivars. The germplasm wheat is critically evaluated
for their resistance and data obtained is sent to PARC headquarters for
presentation in Varietal Evaluation Committee.
The CDRI Karachi is responsible to
identify the plant pathological problems of other agricultural field crops as
well. It conducts field experiments under different agroecological zones in the
provinces of Sindh and Balochistan. In the province of Sindh leaf/brown rust of
wheat is the major disease of wheat. Nowadays an aggressive race of stem rust
is developed for which the aforesaid materials are screened. Study of seedborne
pathogens of the important field crops such as wheat, rice, sorghum, sunflower,
chillies, cucurbits and tomato are carried out in the laboratory. The quality
of seeds is determined for boosting and increasing yield at farmer's level.
Survey, pathogenicity and control of
plant parasitic nematodes associated with cereals, fruits and vegetables are
carried out in the laboratory. Agrochemical and organic matters for the control
of nematodes are being carried out. Plant disease diagnostic and advisory
service is being provided to the progressive farmers, agricultural research
institutes. Besides students are registered at the Institute to do research for
their Ph.D. programmes. Four students have obtained their Ph.D. in
Nematology/Microbiology and two their M.Phil from the Institute.
OBJECTIVES
- To evaluate wheat-breeding material for resistance to rusts and to find suitable sources of broad based resistance to diseases for the development of high yielding rust resistant wheat varieties.
