Field efficacy of formulation of essential oils against blast disease of rice caused by Pyricularia oryzae Pv. Oryzae

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.), is one of the most widely cultivated and major food crops of the world. However the productivity of crop was affects by the attack of various fungal as well as bacterial diseases. Among the various diseases the most predominant one was blast disease caused by Pyricularia oryzae which is very severe in hot and humid climate of Konkan region. Eight essential oils along with one fungicide were tested under field condition. The results revealed that, the lowest incidence of blast was recorded in treatment T4 (Nirgundi oil) with disease incidence 52.59% as compare to the control (71.85%).The highest reduction of disease control was 26.80% and was statistically significant over other treatments. This was followed by treatments T2 (Eucalyptus oil), T5 (Lemon grass oil), and T1 (Citronella oil) with disease incidence of 52.9, 52.96 and 57.03 percent respectively as compare to the control and percent disease reduction was in the tune of 26.29%, 26.29% and 20.63% over control. Data also revealed that treatment of Eucalyptus oil (T2) showed highest yield of 49.03q ha-1 as against 39.11 q ha-1 in control and was statistically significant. Treatment T2 recorded 25.36% increase in yield over control. This was followed by T5 (46.85%) and T4 (43.40%).