Vol. 11, Issue 1 (2022)

Author(s):
GV Bhosale, DS Bharti, GB Bhosale, GP Jagtap and SN Banne

Abstract:
Biotic and abiotic stresses are major constraints in the production of Pearl millet. Among biotic stresses apart from bacterial and viral diseases, many fungal diseases are of economic importance. Ergot was the most important and destructive disease of Pearl millet. Ergot caused by Claviceps fusiformis a serious threat to successful cultivation of Pearl millet. For the management of ergot of Bajra, an experiment was conducted to study the efficacy of antagonistic organism against Claviceps fusiformis. The bio-agents i.e. Trichoderma viride, T harzianum, T hamatum, Aspergillus niger, T. longibrachiatum, T. koningii,Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis etc. were evaluated in vitro, found antifungal to Claviceps fusiformis. However, T. viride was found most significant with highest mycelial growth inhibition (59.52%) of the test pathogen. The second and third most inhibitory antagonists found were T. harzianum and T. hamatum with mycelia growth inhibition of 58.76 and 48.44%, respectively.