Ear cockle

Causal Organism: Anguina tritici
Description Ear-cockle is caused by the nematode. Its occurrence has been reported from all major wheat growing regions of the country. Heavy infestation exceeding 50 per cent in individual fields has been reported from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The losses caused are dependent on the extent of infestation.
Symptoms Leaf blades generally twisted; infected ears are shorter and remain green longer; awns are more spreading; affected grains transformed into one or more small galls.
Control Measures To get rid of the ear-cockle disease, pure seed free from nematode galls should be used for sowings. The galls can be removed mechanically by sieving, as they are smaller in size than the seeds. These can also be removed by the floatation in 2 per cent common salt solution as they float on the solution because of their lighter weight. Precaution must be taken to wash the wet seeds in plain water and then to dry before sowing