In-vitro and In-vivo Management of Seed Borne Fungal Diseases of Maize
Kruthika R. *
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Banglore, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru-560 065, Karnataka, India.
Shadab M Khatib
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Banglore, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru-560 065, Karnataka, India.
Suhasini Sheelavant
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Raichur, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur-584 104, Karnataka, India.
Pooja P S
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Banglore, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru-560 065, Karnataka, India.
Bharath M
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Banglore, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru-560 065, Karnataka, India.
S I Harlapur
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Dharwad, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad-580 005, Karnataka, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The research experiment was conducted during 2021-22 to test the efficacy of seed dressing fungicides and bioagents against seed borne fungal infections In-vitro and In-vivo conditions. In-vitro experiments showed that, in terms of seed germination, Pseudomonas fluorescens at 10 g/kg seeds achieved the highest germination rate (96.66%) and a significant increase in vigor index (3371), though Carboxin 37.5% + Thiram 37.5% WP at 2 g/kg seeds had the highest vigor index (3882) and the greatest reduction in seed infection (92.85%). Carbendazim 50WP at 2 g/kg seeds showed a remarkable decrease in seed infection (86.73%) and a high vigor index (3648). In field the treatments significantly reduced the incidence of charcoal stalk rot, turcicum leaf blight, and fusarium stalk rot compared to the untreated control. Notably, Mancozeb 50% + Carbendazim 25% WS at 2 g/kg seeds showed the highest reduction in charcoal stalk rot incidence (48.45%) and turcicum leaf blight (24.98%). The same treatment also resulted in the highest yield (45.76 q/ha) and shelling percentage (84.51%).
Keywords: Bioagents, disease severity, fungicides, maize, seed infection