Integrated management of root rot of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) caused by Macrophomina phaseolina

Abstract

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L) is one of the major ancient oilseed crops in India. Although it has been cultivated for a long time, the significant increase in productivity is yet to be achieved. It is well recognized that the diseases constitute a major constraint in increasing the yield level of sesame crop. Root rot caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid is an important disease of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) causing 5 to 100 per cent yield loss under field conditions. Field experiment was conducted on integrated disease management practices to combat to root rot and increase the seed yield of sesame during two consecutive years (2015-2016) of kharif seasons at Regional Research station, Vridhachalam, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu. The integrated disease management module consisting of seed treatment with Trichoderma viride @ 4g/Kg + Pseudomonas fluorescens @10 g /kg + soil application of P. fluorescens @ 2.5 Kg/ha + T. viride 2.5 Kg/ha enriched in 100 Kg of FYM + neem cake @ 250 kg/ha effectively reduced the root rot incidence which recorded the minimum disease incidence (14.75 and 11.15%) with higher yield of 648 and 651 kg/ha were recorded during Kharif of 2016 and 2017.