Development and adoption of modules for management of maydis blight of maize

Abstract

OP35(3C): Development and adoption of modules for management of maydis blight of maize in India SK Aggarwal1*, KS Hooda2 , PK Bagaria1 , Harleen Kaur3 , Robin Gogoi4 and Prashant Chauhan5 1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, PAU Campus Ludhiana - 141004, Punjab, India 2 ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resource, Pusa Campus, New Delhi – 110012, India 3Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana -141004, Punjab, India 4Division of Plant Pathology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi – 110012, India 5CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Karnal – 132001, Haryana, India *Email: sumit.aggarwal009@gmail.com Maydis leaf blight (MLB), also called as southern corn leaf blight (SCLB) caused by necrotrophic plant pathogen Cochliobolus heterostrophus (Anamorph - Bipolaris maydis) is a major disease of maize worldwide. The disease is prevalent across maize growing regions of India, especially in northern parts of the country. Present investigation was carried out to manage MLB by designing and adopting three approaches/modules [organic, chemical, and integrated disease management (IDM)] in three locations, namely Ludhiana (Punjab), Karnal (Haryana) and New Delhi (Delhi) during kharif 2019 and 2020. In the first approach, seed treatment with Trichoderma harzianum formulation [@10g/kg seed] was done with foliar spray of Pseudomonas flourescens [@10g/l water at 45 days after sowing (DAS)] followed by foliar spray of cow urine (20%) at 60 DAS. In second approach, seed treatment was done with Thiram (3g/kg seed) followed by foliar spray with Mancozeb 75 WP (2.5g/l water) at 45 DAS and then foliar spray with Azoxystrobin 18.2% w/ w +Difenoconazole 11.4% w/w SC @1 ml/ l water at 55 DAS. In third approach, seed treatment with T. harzianum formulation [@10g/kg seed] and foliar spray of P. flourescens [@10g/l water at 45 DAS] were done followed by foliar spray of Azoxystrobin 18.2% w/w + Difenoconazole 11.4% w/w SC@1 ml/ l water at 50 DAS and also foliar spray of cow urine (20%) at 60 DAS. The treatments were compared with the standard control of foliar spray of with Mancozeb 75 WP (2.5g/l water) at 45 and 55 DAS. All the modules could reduce MLB disease significantly, and overall performance of the modules varied with the locations due to difference in environmental conditions. The chemical module was found most effective followed by IDM at Ludhiana and Session 3C. Success stories in plant diseases management Karnal where as standard control was most effective at New Delhi.