The Effects of Fungicides and Bioagents on Rust (Uromyces setaria) Disease Management in Foxtail Millet

Abstract

Rust disease caused by Uromyces Setaria is a serious airborne disease of foxtail millet that causes a considerable reduction in grain yield under severe infection. An attempt was made to manage the rust disease using fungicides, natural formulations and bioagents under field conditions. The present investigation was undertaken at the Regional Agricultural Research Station (ANGRAU), Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh, India to evaluate different fungicides (six), natural formulations (two) and bioagent (one)for effective management of rust disease for three consecutive rabi seasons during 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21. The experimental results indicated that the least percent disease index of 7.9 per cent was recorded with Hexaconazole (0.2%) and mean grain yield (1,585 kg/ha) with a 46.25 percent improvement in grain yield when compared with untreated control over three years of data. It was followed by 8.0 percent disease control achieved in continuous spray with Mancozeb at 10 days interval starting 30 days after sowing, which resulted in a 46.25 percent increase in grain yield (1,585 kg/ha) and Difenoconazole 25EC (Score @ 0.1 percent) with a percent disease index of 9.03 per cent and a 46.82 percent increase in grain yield (1,602 kg/ha). The natural formulations and bioagent has shown to be least effective in controlling rust disease compared to chemical fungicides, Among these, Neem seed Kernel Extract (5%) was found to be better with PDI of 25.1% compared other two treatments (Butter milk + Asafoetida and Pseudomonas fluorescens @10g/l. Two fungicides, i.e Difenoconazole and Hexaconazole were proven to be successful in reducing rust and offering marginal farmers in a cost-effective mode.The findings could aid in the development of rust management strategies in India, such as fungicide rotation and strategic fungicide treatment.