Identification and severity of Important Diseases of Foxtail Millet [Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.].

Abstract

Foxtail millet is one of the oldest crops grown for food and fodder especially in Asia and Africa Countries. They are C4 plants. They are small seeded. They suffers from various diseases like Blight, Rust, Downy mildew, etc. which adversely affect the quality and quantity of produce. The objective was to identify disease and their severity. Which adversely affect the quality and quantity of Produce. Investigations are, therefore, essential to diagnose the various diseases,their Assessment and their severity so as to develop a suitable IDM schedule. Foxtail millet experiment was sown on 18/06/2017 with row spacing of 22.5cm and plant to plant spacing of 10 cm in rows of 5 m each, with 10 rows in each plot. Once disease symptom was initiated sample was collected, section was prepared and isolations were done. Identification of pathogen was based on symptomatology, microscopic studies and pathogenicity test. Leaf blight pathogen was identified as Drechslera setariae. Leaf Rust pathogen was identified as Uromyces setariae-italicae. It is concluded that major diseases of foxtail millet recorded during 2017 were leaf blight (Cochliobolu ssetariae) and rust (Uromyces setariae-italicae) which were observed in severe proportion in some genotypes.The efficacy of fungicides and a bioagent against Cochliobolus setariae causing leaf blight of foxtail millet was studied by employing spore germination technique. The objective of the experiment was to identify the suitable fungicide/bio-agent on the basis of spore inhibiyion as to develop a fungicidal schedule for the management of the diseases.