Factors Affecting Teliospore Viability of Neovossia Indica

The teliospore viability was drastically reduced after 6 years of their burial in the field and soil solarization for 3–4 weeks in the months of May and June. Deep seated teliospores in the soil which get mixed up during the year of harvesting have insignificant role in the disease in the crop season to follow but subsequently the teliospores survive and play important role in the disease epidemiology. If provided with adequate humidity, the teliospores may germinate from 2nd week of October to 3rd week of March under field conditions. Fumigants used for seed storage had a little deliterious effect on teliospore germination. Stimulation in germination of teliospores (obtained from freshly harvested bunted grains and upto 3 month's after harvesting) was recorded after 6 hrs exposure to UV radiation, dry heating at 90°C for 30 min., shock treatment at freezing and boiling temperatures for 5 min., presoaking in N/10 HCI followed by in N/10 Na₂HCO₃, N/20 NaCl, CaCl₂ and KCI. Grinding, milling, alternate wetting/drying, washings and passage of bunted grains through alimentary canal of rats had a little effect on teliospore germination. The teliospores did not germinate after cooking (Chapati and Dalia making), at a constant temperature of 35°C in distilled water and dry heating at 140°C for 10 min.