A survey was conducted on wheat, the second most important cereal in Bangladesh to assess wheat blast and rusts disease during 2018-19 cropping season. Survey was conducted in farmer’s field and trial sites of major wheat growing area following BGRI protocols developed for cereal rust assessment. Disease severity was estimated using standard 0-100 scale and the modified Cobb scale for blast and rust, respectively. A total of 36 districts were surveyed which covered 152 farmer’s fields and trial sites. Out of 152 sites, 61 sites were infected with wheat blast with lower infection and 113 were with rust which was 40% and 74% of total surveyed fields, respectively. Districts of Bhola showed higher level of blast disease severity in late planting condition. However, early planted field in those districts had escaped disease infection. The lowest level of disease infection was observed in Naogaon districts surveyed field. Overall disease incidence was comparatively lower with insignificant yield loss. In case of rust, stem rust and yellow rust was not found, but leaf rust occurred with varying levels of severity depending on field locations, sowing times and cultivars grown. About 74% of the 152 fields investigated had leaf rust, and almost 72% of the infected fields showed low, 19% was moderate and only 9% showed high disease severity. Timely (15-30 November) planted crops largely escaped or had less disease compared to those planted late in the season. The predominant cultivar Prodip as well as the cultivar unknown showed zero to high disease levels with susceptible (S) type reactions whereas the variety BARI Gom 26 showed also zero to high level of disease severity but with moderately susceptible to susceptible (MSS) type reaction . The variety BARI Gom 30, BARI Gom 28, BARI Gom 25 and the variety mixture displayed zero to low level of disease severity with susceptible (S) and MSS type reaction. Variety BARI Gom 23/Bijoy found with low disease severity and moderately resistant (MR) type reaction whereas Kanchan showed low disease severity with moderately susceptible to susceptible (MSS) type reaction. Among the cultivar surveyed Shatabdi was found free from leaf rust infection. These indications is not to that, the virulent races of pathogen will not emerge and inflict severe damage in future. Breeding resistance varieties and quick replacement of susceptible varieties are needed to sustain wheat production.
