Impact of Environmental Variables on Late Blight Pathogen against Potato Cultivars under Rawalakot Conditions Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

Study was designed to evaluate the effect of weather parameters on late blight of potato. Four potato varieties, Lady Rosetta, Hermis, Racco and Kuroda were grown in the first week of April. Experiment was laid in pot experiment in open air with RCBD with four replications. Disease incidence and severity were recorded. Maximum 100% disease incidence was recorded on Racco and Kuroda while Lady Rosetta and Hermis showed 50 and 85% respectively. Maximum disease severity was found on Kuroda with 80.5% foliage covering while minimum 37% disease severity was shown by Lady Rosetta. Temperature, relative humidity and rainfall averages determined the disease severity which influenced the late blight dispersal and disease progress with average temperature (21.45 ˚C), relative humidity (43.45%) and a total rainfall of 126 mm in the whole experimental period