Evaluation of bioactive plant products for the management of Cercospora leaf spot disease in sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentina L.)

Sarpgandha (Rauwolfia serpentina L.) is an important medicinal plant which is is damaged by several fungal diseases, including Cercospora leaf spot disease which is one of the major challenges. An experiment was designed to evaluate the efficacy of some botanical biofungicides against the Cercospora leaf spot disease of Sarpgandha. A minimum disease incidence of 23.58 per cent was recorded in Tulsi (leaf extract) @ 5 per cent followed by neem (leaf extract) @ 5per cent, garlic bulb extract @ 5 percent, turmeric rhizome extract @ 5 per cent and lemongrass @ 5 per cent. A maximum reduction of 63.54 per cent in disease incidence was recorded in tulsi (leaf extract) @ 5 per cent were significantly reduced disease incidence.