Vol. 10, Issue 6 (2021)

Author(s):
Chandan Kumar, Phool Chand, CS Choudhary, NS Akhtar and Bimla Rai

Abstract:
Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal crop belonging to the family, Graminae. It is the most versatile crop, adapted to different agro-ecological and climatic conditions. Maize is known as queen of cereals because of its high genetic yield potentiality. Maize is an essential human nutrient, element of animal feed and raw material for so many industrial products. Maydis leaf blight is a serious foliar fungal disease causes considerable losses to the maize crop. If infection occurs prior to silking and weather conditions are favourable, damage is most critical. The present investigation on “In vitro Evaluation of Fungicides, Botanicals and Bio-agents against Maydis Leaf Blight Disease of Maize Caused by Helminthosporium maydis” were undertaken for the management of Maydis leaf blight disease of maize. Nine fungicides (5 systemic and 4 non-systemic fungicides) were tested against Maydis leaf blight disease under laboratory condition with different concentrations viz., 50, 100 and 200 ppm. Ten botanicals were also tested in vitro at 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. In vitro ten isolates of Trichoderma sp. from the native rhizosphere was also used for bio control experiment against the Helminthosporium maydis. Among the systemic fungicides, Propiconazole was found highly effective and inhibited cent per cent of mycelial growth of H. maydis at all the concentrations (50, 100 and 200 ppm). Carboxin showed 100 per cent inhibition at 100 and 200 ppm concentrations. After Propiconazole and Carboxin, Crabendazim showed 87.88 per cent inhibition at 200 ppm concentration. Amongst all the non-systemic fungicides evaluated Mancozeb was found to be most effective and significantly superior over all other treatments followed by Thiram and Chlorothalonil. Among Botanicals, Turmeric was found to be most effective and significantly superior over all other treatments at all the concentrations. Next to Turmeric, Garlic was found significantly effective at 5, 10 and 15 per cent concentrations, respectively. Neem was found effective at 20 per cent concentrations followed by Garlic, Ginger and Onion. All the isolates of Trichoderma reduced the mycelial growth of the test fungus. Maximum inhibition in mycelial growth (93.48%) was recorded in RT-6 isolate followed by RT-9 isolate (91.25%), RT-7 (89.36%) and minimum inhibition in mycelial growth (73.94%) was measured in RT-1 isolate.