PAU Advises Against Fungicide Use for Purple Discolouration in Punjab Wheat Crops

Wheat crops in Punjab are exhibiting purple discoloration on glumes and peduncles due to above-normal temperatures in February and March, according to Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) experts. This pigmentation, likely caused by melanin and inherent to some wheat varieties, is not a disease and does not affect the developing grain. PAU advises farmers against spraying fungicides unnecessarily and recommends need-based irrigation and potassium nitrate application to mitigate heat stress and support yield.