Approaches towards Integrated Disease Management of Sheath Blight disease of Corn

Abstract

Maize occupies a prominent position in India as each part of the maize plant is of economical importance. Banded leaf and sheath blight disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani f. sp. sasakii is one of the important disease of maize. The causal organism of this disease has potential to inflict economic loss up to 100 %. Due to its soil borne nature and lack of resistant cultivers, it poses challenge to maize growers. Fungicides or crop rotation alone is not sufficient to control this disease. The present study is on integrated disease management through chemical, biological and botanicals means. The findings of this investigation should help better management and reduce crop loss due to banded leaf and sheath blight. Bavistin showed maximum percent of inhibition i.e. hundred percent (100%) at 10 ppm concentration. In order to replace chemical treatment present study was focused on use of integrated disease management (IDM). For this six treatment were given to maize seed with botanicals, bio-agent, chemical and combination of these out of which it was found that treatment number S6 and S7 which is combination of Bavistin + Neem oil and Trichoderma harzianum + Neem oil respectively showed maximum percent diseases index i.e. 2.9 and 4.6 respectively. In another treatment, along with seed treatment foliar spray was also done by using chemicals and botanicals. In this experiment it was found that when treatment was done with bio-agent T. harzianum maximum percent disease control was reported 90.9 and minimum 60.6 when foliar spray and seed treatment both were done only by Neem oil.