In Vitro Evaluation of Fungicides and Biocontrol Agents Against Exserohilum Monoceras Inciting Leaf Spot Disease of Barnyard Millet

Barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea) is a highly nutritious crop and fast growing robust crop. It is used for patients to tolerate gluten causing celiac disease, reversed for their resilience, adaptability and rich nutritional profile, millets hold a special place in sustainable agriculture and food security. Despite its strengths, Barnyard millet remains under utilized in modern agriculture and its productivity is significantly constrained by biotic stresses. Among these, Leaf spot disease, caused by the fungus Exerohilum monoceras, is the most widespread and destructive. Cultural studies revealed that among the solid media tested, highest radial growth of the fungus was recorded on PDA, Czapek’s Dox agar media and Oat meal agar followed by Yeast extract potato agar, whereas Corn meal agar had least growth. In, in vitro evaluation of six bio-agents, Trichoderma harzianum was emerged as the potential antagonist of Exserohilum monoceras which showed 77.03% inhibition of the fungus and was followed by Trichoderma viride 71.50%. Among the six fungicides was assessed in vitro poisoned food technique which revealed that, all the fungicides evaluated showed significant inhibition of pathogen., Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% WP and Azoxystrobin 18.2% + Difenconazole 11.4% SC, were the most effective fungicide which showed complete inhibition of the mycelial growth of the pathogen.