Evaluation of MPKV bioconsortia against Pokkah boeng disease of sugarcane

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is an important C4 crop grown in tropical and subtropical regions for sugar, jaggery, ethanol, and other by products. In India, it is a key livelihood source, but its productivity is threatened by Pokkah boeng disease, caused by Fusarium moniliforme. The disease shows mild, moderate, and severe symptoms, making its management crucial. This study evaluated the efficacy of MPKV bioconsortia—a fungal and bacterial formulation—against Pokkah boeng disease. Eight treatments were tested, including bioformulations, a chemical check (Mancozeb), and control. Among them, T6 (fungal + bacterial consortia @ 10 g/L) recorded the lowest disease incidence (10.65%) and maximum disease control (64.32%), surpassing Mancozeb (12.04%, 59.66%). T6 also improved growth traits such as internode length (14.71 cm), cane girth (11.41 cm), and yield attributes like cane weight (2.0 kg), cane yield (132.63 t/ha), and CCS yield (22.06 t/ha). Enhanced brix, sucrose, and purity further demonstrated the bio-stimulatory and disease-suppressive role of microbial consortia.