EFFECT OF MICROWAVE IRRADIATION ON THE EAR-COCKLE DISEASE AND YIELD OF WHEAT

Abstract

Microwave irradiation significantly decreased the mycoflora of soaked (from 8 and 10 sec. onwards) and unsoaked (from 10 and 12 sec onwards), healthy and cockles seeds, respectively. Mortality of Anguina tritici juveniles inside soaked and unsoaked cockles was significantly greater from 10 and 14 sec treatments, respectively. The seed germination decreased (P=0.05) from 16 sec onwards. Microwave treatments gradually suppressed the pathogenic effect of A. tritici, leading to a significant increase in the growth and yield of inoculated plants grown from 14 to 16 sec exposed healthy seeds (soaked). Ear-cockle or seed-gall formation was also decreased (P=0.05). Microwave exposures for 18 sec onwards, however, caused injurious effects that resulted to a significant decrease in the plant growth and yield of wheat.