Evaluation of an Integrated Disease Management Module for Pearl Millet Against Magnaporthe grisea: A Causal Agent of Blast Disease

Author(s): G.L. Basavaraj and K.N. Amruthesh*

Abstract: The present-day disease management strategies are accomplished through various methods using a diverse source of pesticides which are hazardous to the whole environment and also have their limitations. In the present study, integrated disease management module with elicitors [Pseudomonas fluorescens (biotic) and BABA (abiotic)] and also tricyclazole (fungicide) individually and in combinations were evaluated for their effectiveness in growth promotion and disease protection against blast disease of pearl millet. It was noted that all the treatments significantly enhanced the plant growth parameters compared to control. There was an increase of 0.2 to 0.6 fold increase in all the plant growth parameters in elicitor-treated pearl millet seedlings individually and combinations. The results showed that the combination of P. fluorescens and BABA were more effective in disease protection of 69.75% and 67.25% under greenhouse and field condition, respectively which is in line with the growth parameter studies. The resistant seedlings offered 92.5% and 89.75% disease protection in greenhouse and field conditions. The results affirm the selected elicitors possess the potential to induce resistance in pearl millet against blast disease both under greenhouse and field conditions apart from enhancing the plant growth parameters.

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