Q.14 A systematic study of recurrence of cereal rust in the plains of India was carried out by:
- Dr. P. Maheshwari
- Dr. K. C. Mehta
- Dr. P. C. Mehta
- Dr. Hargovind Khurana
Dr. K. C. Mehta conducted the systematic study of cereal rust recurrence in India’s plains through extensive surveys and monographs documenting rust epidemiology.
Question Breakdown
Cereal rusts (Puccinia spp.) devastate wheat/barley crops via urediniospore cycles. This question tests Indian agricultural mycology history, specifically plains zone rust forecasting established in the 1920s-1940s via trap nurseries and meteorological correlations.
Option Analysis
Dr. P. Maheshwari
Incorrect. Pioneering plant embryologist/embryogeny researcher at Delhi University. Discovered apogamy in ferns; no rust pathology work.
Dr. K. C. Mehta
Correct. Rai Bahadur Prof. Karam Chand Mehta (Agra College) initiated systematic rust surveys from 1922 across India’s rust belt (Punjab to Bihar). Published seminal monographs “Further Studies on Cereal Rusts in India” (1940, 1952) mapping rust recurrence patterns, overwintering foci, and wind dispersal from Nilgiris/Himalayas. Established rust forecasting methodology still used by IIWBR.
Dr. P. C. Mehta
Incorrect. No notable record in Indian rust research; likely distractor (name similarity).
Dr. Hargovind Khurana (Har Gobind Khorana)
Incorrect. Nobel laureate (1968) for genetic code decipherment (E. coli RNA synthetases). Biochemist, not plant pathologist.
Correct Answer: Dr. K. C. Mehta – Father of Indian cereal rust epidemiology.
Systematic study of cereal rust in the plains of India by Dr. K. C. Mehta established rust forecasting that protects multi-crore wheat production. His 1920s surveys mapped Puccinia dispersal patterns critical for modern disease management.
Mehta’s Rust Research Revolution
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1922-1940: Annual mobile surveys across 10 states using trap nurseries.
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Monographs: Vol I (1940), Vol II (1952) – rust biotypes, overwintering, meteorology correlations.
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Nilgiri focus: Identified southern hills as rust bridge for northern epidemics.
Impact on Indian Agriculture
Mehta’s work enabled resistant cultivar deployment (e.g., Kalyan Sona) and fungicide timing, preventing rust epidemics during Green Revolution. IIWBR Karnal continues his trap nursery system.
Scientist Field Rust Research Dr. K. C. Mehta Cereal rust epidemiology Systematic plains surveys Dr. P. Maheshwari Plant embryology None Dr. P. C. Mehta Unknown None Dr. H. G. Khorana Genetic code None -
