Exploring the integrated use of fungicides, bio-control agent and biopesticide for management of foliar diseases (anthracnose, grey leaf spot and zonate leaf spot) of sorghum

Abstract

Foliar diseases of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) such as anthracnose (Colletotrichum sublineolum), grey leaf spot (Cercospora sorghi) and zonate leaf spot (Gloeocercospora sorghi), are major biotic constraints to forage and grain production globally. Therefore, a study was undertaken to exploit the potential of the biocontrol agent Trichoderma, botanical biopesticide Neem extract and fungicides carbendazim and propiconazole in an integrated manner against foliar pathogens of sorghum in factorial randomized complete block design in two geographically different locations [Ludhiana (Punjab) and Palampur (Himachal Pradesh)] of India during four years (2016–2019). The lowest severity of anthracnose and grey leaf spot with corresponding disease control of 48.9% and 42.4% was recorded with seed dressing of carbendazim followed by one spray each with neem biopesticide and propiconazole at 20 and 35 days after sowing with 43.1% increase in green fodder yield. For zonate leaf spot, seed dressing with carbendazim and two foliar applications of propiconazole showed the lowest disease severity with 82.8% disease control. Thus, the integrated use of neem biopesticide and fungicide will efficiently minimize the severity of sorghum foliar diseases and increase the green fodder yield.