Evaluation of botanicals, bioagents and ITK's against Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.) Leonard and Suggs., causal agent of Turcicum leaf blight of maize

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the important cereal crops in the world standing next to wheat and rice. Maize isprone to several diseases among which Turcicum leaf blight (TLB) caused by Exserohilum turcicum is one of the mostdevastating foliar fungal disease causing grain yield losses ranging from 28-91 per cent. TLB is widely distributed in allmaize growing areas of our country. Among the evaluated botanicals, Margoneem (Azadirachtin 0.15%) and Perfekt (Herbalmixture) were significantly superior to other botanicals with 100 per cent mycelial growth inhibition of E. turcicum at allconcentrations. Among the bio-agents, Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens showed the maximum percent mycelial growth inhibition of 100 and 68.90 per cent, respectively. Of the various Indigenous Technical Knowledgeevaluated, panchagavya @ 10 per cent and cow urine @ 10 per cent proved to be most effective with 70.97 and 62.35percent of inhibition of conidial germination.