Mitigating Pearl Millet Blast (Pyricularia grisea): Effective Fungicidal Treatments

Abstract

Pearl millet is a staple cereal grown in India. It encounters number of diseases which attack the crop during its growth, cause low yield and economic loss to the peasant ad finally to the nation as a whole. The blast also referred as leaf spot caused by Pyricularia grisea has emerged as a serious disease affecting both forage and grain production in pearl millet. in view of this a field experiment was conducted over three consecutive kharif seasons (2021, 2022 and 2023) at the Pearl Millet Research Station, JAU, Jamnagar, to assess to evaluate the efficacy of different fungicides in reducing the incidence and severity of blast disease in pearl millet as well as Identify the most effective fungicide formulations and application rates for minimizing blast intensity. On the basis of field and based on the pooled data Azoxystrobin 11% + Tebuconazole 18.30% SC, 0.05% recorded the lowest blast intensity at 30.20%, which was statistically at par with Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25% WG, 0.05% (31.65%). The control treatment recorded the highest blast intensity at 54.96%. In context to grain and fodder yield, highest grain yield (2135 kg/ha) and fodder yield (44.38 q/ha) recorded in treatment Azoxystrobin 11% + Tebuconazole 18.30% SC, 0.05% which was at par with Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25% WG, 0.05% (2054 kg/ha), Azoxystrobin 11% + Tebuconazole 18.30% SC, 0.625% (1940 kg/ha) and Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25% WG, 0.0375% (1851 kg/ha). In summary, Azoxystrobin 11% + Tebuconazole 18.30% SC, 0.05% was the most effective treatment for controlling blast and maximizing both grain and fodder yield. The performance of Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25% WG, 0.05% was comparable in terms of blast intensity and yield parameters.