Bio-efficacy of essential oils in eco-friendly management of Tilletia barclayana causing kernel smut in rice

Studies undertaken to assess the antifungal efficacy of some essential oils and aroma chemicals @ 1000 ppm against Tilletia barclayana (Bref.) Sacc. & P. Syd., causing kernel smut of rice, revealed that palmarosa oil alone is significantly superior showing inhibition of 77.78 per cent in teliospore germination followed by cedar wood oil (72.22 per cent). Among aroma chemicals, the phenyl ethyl propionate showed potent antifungal efficacy with maximum inhibition of 83.70 per cent in teliospores germination. The findings positively provide an impetus for the development and commercialization of plant-based pesticide with higher potency for management of kernel smut of rice.