Frequently Asked Questions

• Which are late blight prone areas in Punjab?
  Hoshiarpur, Ropar, Nawan Shahar, Jalandhar and Kapurthala
• When late blight starts appearing in Punjab?
  From second week of November onwards 
• Which are highly susceptible  varieties to late blight cultivated in Punjab?
  Kufri Chandramukhi and Kufri Pukhraj 
• How late blight disease survives in Punjab?
  Through infected tubers kept in cold stores
• What are favourable weather conditions for late blight development?
  Temperature between 10-20^o C, RH of > 90%, rainy spells, cloudiness and foggy weather 
• What are different methods to manage this disease?
  • Use of healthy seeds
  • Use of moderately resistant varieties
  • Culling and destruction of infected tubers
  • High ridge sowing
  • Preventive fungicide application
• Does late blight of potato affect other crops also?
  Tomato
• When fungicide spray programme should be initiated?
  As preventive application before disease appearance (First week of November)
• Which fungicides are recommended by PAU to manage this disease?
  As preventive application:
  Indofil M-45, Antracol, Kavach@ 500-700g per acre at 7 days interval
  Under heavy disease risk situation:
  Ridomil MZ/Gold/ Curzette-M-8 @ 700g/acre at 10 days interval 
• Whether Metalaxyl can be tank - mixed with Mancozeb?
  No, Metalaxyl should be used in pre- packed mixture with Mancozeb 
• What measures should be taken before sowing/ after taking tubers from cold stores to manage late blight?
  • Use disease free seeds only
  • Destroy infected tubers after culling