Bio efficacy of fungicides, biocontrol agents and botanicals against brown spot (Cercospora longipes Butler) of sugarcane

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is an important cash and industrial crop of India. Brown spot of sugarcane is one of miner disease which sporadically has become frequent occurring disease in some parts of northern Karnataka. Pathogenicity of brown spot disease was proved by mycelial bit inoculation method. Further identified the brown spot (Cercospora longipes Butler) pathogen with produced hyaline conidiophore in clusters and conidia were hyaline, two to many celled, needle shaped and produced shy sporulation. In vitro evaluation fungicides, plant extract and bioagents revealed that hexaconazole 5% EC, propiconazole 25 EC and tebuconazole 250 EC at 0.05 per cent concentration showed cent per cent inhibition of mycelial growth of C. longipes in systemic fungicides, mancozeb @ 0.2 and 0.3 per cent concentration showed cent per cent inhibition in non-systemic fungicides, cabendazim 12% + mancozeb 63%, hexaconazole 18% + zineb 68%, captan 70% + hexaconazole 5% @ all the concentration and Carboxin 37.55% + thiram 37.55% @ 0.1 and 0.2 per cent concentration showed 100 per cent inhibition in combi products, leaf extracts of Azadiracta indica (10%) and Trichoderma virens were most effective against brown spot.