Wheat disease spreads alarm; Bengal bans sowing in 2 border districts | The Indian Express

Wheat blast, caused by a fungus, causes ripe wheat to turn whitish and dry up. It can infect large areas in a short time and render an area infertile for two to three years. Scientists say entire fields can go sterile if the disease spreads, which happens either by air or through stubble. According to scientists, the consequences of a wider outbreak in South Asia, whose inhabitants consume 100 million tonnes of wheat each year, could be as devastating as leaving 300 million people malnourished.

Source: Wheat disease spreads alarm; Bengal bans sowing in 2 border districts | The Indian Express