Management of pearl millet downy mildew by the application of bio-agents, chemicals and botanical

Abstract

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.)R.Br.) Popularly known as bajra is a major warm-season cereal, largely grown under rainfed conditions in India. Downy mildew incited by Sclerospora graminicola (Sacc.) Schroet is the most widespread and destructive disease of pearl millet in India. The disease was observed two weeks after sowing as chlorotic strips on the upper surface of the leaves which progresses from base to top majority of infected plants were fail to form normal healthy earheads which ultimately effected the yield. The bio agent viz., Psuedomonas fluorescence, Bacillus subtilis, Trichoderma viride andTrichoderma harzianum were evaluated as seed dresser. The fungicide viz., Metalaxyl @ 6g/kg and Amectoctradin + Dimethomorph @ 0.4 ml/ 500 ml water were also evaluated as seed dresser while Mancozeb @ 0.2% and Neem leaf extract @10% were applied once as foliar application. Foliar application of Mancozeb @ 0.2% was found most effective in respect of significant reduction of downy mildew (2.28%) and grain yield enhancement2025 kg/ha as compare to control in which 10.19% and 1679 kg/ha disease incidence and yield was recorded respectively. For the control of downy mildew Mancozeb was significantly superior over all the tested bio agent seed dressing and also with the seed dressing with Amectoctradin+ Dimethomorph @0.4 ml/ 500 ml waterwhiles it was statistically at par with metalaxyl seed dressing and application of Neem leaf extract @ 10%. Foliar application of Neem leaf extract @10% and seed dressing with Metalaxyl @ 6g/kg also significantly checked the downy mildew and these two were significantly superior over the seed dressing with all the tested bio agents also. The encouraging result of neem leaf extract as foliar application gives a sign that it may act as an alternative to the fungicides in the light of an eco-friendly management of pearl millet downy mildew.