Role of weather parameters in downy mildew progression in pearlmillet

Downy mildew incidence in pearlmillet cultivars 7042-S and HB-3 at 30 and 60 days after sowing during the 6 years period (1995–2000) was taken. The meteorological parameters on maximum and minimum temperature, morning and evening relative humidity, morning and evening vapour pressure, rainfall and rainy days were taken for the same period from meteorological observatory of the department These meteorological parameters were correlated with disease intensity, which was transformed using different models of disease progression such as Logistic, Gompertz, Monomolecular and Von Bertalanffy Richard model. Among these models, disease intensity transformed by Logistic model showed highest correlation with weather parameters followed by Gompertz, Monomolecular and Richard model. The weather parameters such as maximum temperature, morning relative humidity and rainy days explained the maximum variability in disease progression up to 83 per cent.