ABSTRACT
636Wheat blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum (MoT) is a recent disease of wheat occurring in South American countries like Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina and only during early 2016 has been reported to occur in Bangladesh (South Asia). Disease causes seed discoloration and leaf spots as well blight of spike. The spike blight is most damaging stage of disease and results in to sterility or poor seed setting. The disease likes humid and warm climate and increases if heading stage coincides with intermittent rains. Not many studies are done on epidemiology, pathogenic variability, seed health testing, and control including host resistance in wheat blast. The pathogen is more equipped for mutation and develops resistance to fungicides faster than other wheat pathogens. Use of combined dose of two fungicides is therefore recommended for proper management of wheat blast. Keeping in view of climate change, the pathogen may attain most damaging status in wheat in countries where wheat is cultivated in warm and humid climate. The combined impact of wheat blast with spot blotch, head scab and brown rust will be quite devastating in these regions.
