Vol. 12, Issue 6 (2023)

Author(s):
RJ Chaudhari, GM Parmar, RP Juneja, SK Parmar and KD Mungra

Abstract:
Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is an important cereal and forage crop of arid and subtropical regions of the Indian subcontinent as well as several African regions. Downy mildew (DM) or ‘green ear’ disease caused by Sclerospora graminicola (Sacc.) Schroet. occurs most destructively in Asia and Africa. The first epidemic of downy mildew occurred in 1971 on the first popular pearl millet hybrid, HB 3, resulting in severe grain loss of about 4.6 million metric tonnes. Eco friendly management components were evaluated at Main Pearl Millet Research Station, JAU, Jamnagar (Gujarat) during kharif 2021 and kharif 2022 for minimize downy mildew disease incidence. Total five seed treatments [(Trichoderma harzianum (JAU @ 8 g/kg), PSB formulation (PSB 8 g/kg), neem oil (3%) and metalaxyl (6 g/kg)] including check were tested. Minimum percent downy mildew incidence recorded in standard check Metalaxyl (11.79%) which was at par with T. harzianum (12.58%) and PSB formulation (13.12%). Same trends observed in grain yield, maximum grain yield found in standard check Metalaxyl (2051 kg/ha) which was at par with T. harzianum (1966 kg/ha) and PSB formulation (1941 kg/ha). While maximum fodder yield recorded in Metalaxyl (39.02 q/ha) which was at par with T. harzianum (38.75 q/ha), PSB formulation (35.84 q/ha) and neem oil (34.64 q/ha).