Bio-efficacy of seed dressing fungicides and bio-agents on seed borne fungal infections and seed quality of greengram

Abstract

A laboratory experiment was conducted during summer-2021 at Department of Seed Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design consists of eight treatments including the seed treatment with different seed dressing fungicides and bio-agents in greengram with each replicated four times in paper towel method and recorded the the influence of treatments on seed quality attributes of greengram. Among the different treatments, the seed treatment with Mancozeb 50% WP+ Carbendazim 25% WS (Sprint) @ 2g/kg recorded significantly highest germination (84.67%), lower seed infection (12.00%) and showed 13.48 per cent increase in germination and 44.67 per cent decrease in infection over control. The seed treatment with Trichoderma harzianum @ 10 g /kg seeds (T6) recorded the highest mean shoot length (24.3 cm) and mean root length (13.42 cm) followed by Mancozeb 50% WP+ carbendazim 25% WS (Sprint) @ 2g/kg seeds (23.1 cm) and 13.43 cm root length and these are found on par with each other. The seed treatment with Mancozeb 50% WP+ carbendazim 25% WS (Sprint) @ 2g/ kg seeds (T3) recorded significantly highest seedling vigour index (3098) and Trichoderma harzianum @ 10g /kg seeds (T6) recorded 3025 and both are found on par with each other and are followed by seed treatment with carbendazim 50% WP @ 2g/kg seeds (2942), Thiophanate methyl + pyraclostrobin (Xelero) @ 2g/kg seeds (2678). Mancozeb 50% WP+ carbendazim 25% WS (Sprint) performed better in controlling seed borne infections and thus enhanced seed quality parameters of greengram. Among bioagents Trichoderma harzianum can be predominantly used for seed treatment of greengram against seed borne fungal infections.