Management of zonate leaf spot in sorghum through fungicides

Zonate leaf spot caused by Gloeocercospora sorghi is one of the most destructive diseases of sorghum in India. Uttarakhand is considered as a hot spot for this disease. Field experiments were carried out during the kharif season 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 at Livestock Research Centre, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. In the year 2014–15, maximum reduction in percent disease index (PDI) was obtained with three foliar spray of Mancozeb (35.48%) at 75 DAS. Similarly in the year 2015–16, maximum reduction in PDI was found with Mancozeb (31.67%) at 75 DAS with three foliar sprays under field conditions. Fungicides play a very important and significant role in disease management because of the fact that they are easy to apply, economical, quick acting and effective while working with the disease like zonate leaf spot of sorghum. The finding suggests that Mancozeb (0.2%) can suppress the pathogen.