MANAGEMENT OF BANDED BLIGHT OF FINGER MILLET INCITED BY RHIZOCTONIA SOLANI (KUHN.)

Field experiment was conducted at the research farm of Agricultural Research Station, Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh during the kharif season of 2009-10 to test the management of banded blight of finger millet (Eleisine coracana (L) Gaertn.) caused by Rhizoctonia solani. Three fungicides viz., Carbendazim @ 1g/kg, Hexaconazole @ 2ml/kg, Propiconazole @ 1 ml/kg, One antibiotic Validamycin @ 2gm/kg, two bio-agents viz., Pseudomonas flurescens @ 10 g/kg, Trichoderma harzianum @ 4 gm/kg and its combination Pseudomonas flurescens @ 10 g/kg + Trichoderma harzianum @ 4 gm/kg were used as seed treatment on the susceptible variety Champavathi (VR-708). Among all the treatments seed treatment with propiconazole @ 1 ml/kg was found most effective in reducing disease incidence and increasing yield with 12.57 per cent of disease severity and 1435.87 kg/ha yield compared to untreated check with 42.2 per cent disease severity and 1324 kg/ha yields. Hexaconazole @ 2ml/kg was also at par with propiconazole both in reducing the disease severity and increasing yield. Validamycin @ 2 gm/kg, P.flurescens @ 10 g/lt + T.harzianum @ 4 gm/lt, Carbendazim was also effective in reducing the disease. Next to them are Pseudomonas flurescens @ 10 g/kg and Trichoderma harzianum @ 4 gm/kg.