Influence of Bioagents and Botanicals on Seed Health of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum typhoides L.)

The seedsof pearl millet (Cv. Shanti) was treated with talc powder based formulations of bioagents viz; Pseudomonas fluorescens (0.6%), Trichoderma viride (0.6%), Pseudomonas fluorescens + Trichoderma viride (0.6% each), and botanicals viz; Garlic extract (1%) and Ginger extract (1%) alonwith Thiram + Carbendazim (0.2% each) as a recommended fungicidal check. The results indicated that, the pearlmillet seed treated with T. viride was effective in reducing seed mycoflora viz; Fusarium moniliforme, Curvularia penniseti, Alternaria alternata, Drechslera sorghicola, Curvularia lunata, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger by 100, 69.7, 72.3, 78.7, 82.5, 47.4 and 69.7 per cent, respectively over untreated control. The seed quality parameters viz; seed germination, seedling vigour index and field emergence of pearl millet was increased by 22.19, 24.00 and 20.99 per cent, respectively over untreated control.