Evaluation of fungicides for the management of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.)] blast caused by Magnaporthe grisea

Blast disease caused by Magnaporthe grisea has emerged as a serious threat to pearl millet cultivation in India. Most of the hybrids being grown in India are susceptible to blast as not much efforts have been made to breed for blast resistance in pearl millet. In the absence of host plant resistance, the disease can be effectively managed with chemical fungicides. Therefore, nine fungicides, chlorothalonil, tricyclazole, hexaconazole, kasugamycin, benomyl, carbendazim, tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin, propiconazole and metalaxyl + mancozeb were tested for their efficacy to manage blast disease on a blast susceptible pearl millet line ICMB 95444. Different combinations of seed treatment and foliar sprays were tested: seed treatment alone, seed treatment + one spray, seed treatment + two sprays, seed treatment + three sprays. None of the fungicides was found effective when used as seed treatment. Results of this study clearly demonstrated that the disease can be effectively managed with three sprays of tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin (Nativo) or propiconazole (Tilt).