The present investigation incorporates results obtained on the three important aspects of management of the disease Banded leaf and sheath blight of maize caused by Rhizoctonia solani f.sp. sasakii. Even though efforts to locate resistant genes have led to rather frustrating outcomes, in this study it has been possible to identify at least 13 germplasms possessing some resistance (tolerance) to this disease. Adoption of chemical fungicides also gave encouraging results with two chemicals, namely Rhizolex and Thiophenate-M, giving significant practical control of this disease. Regarding biocontrol of the disease, it could be observed that isolate of Pseudomonas fluorescens from maize rhizosphere was most antagonistic to R. solani f.sp. sasakii, showing highest inhibition zone and the least number of sclerotia produced. Similarly, biocontrol agent Trichoderma harzianum also gave encouraging results in vitro. Isolates T. harzianum obtained from Pantnagar, Dharwad, and Delhi gave more than 60 per cent inhibition of the pathogen in vitro. Use of P. fluorescens as biocontrol option appears to be exciting as seed treatment and soil application of the bacterium not only reduced the disease to more than 50 per cent but also resulted in consequent increase in grain yield. In vitro evaluation of fungicides indicated that Bavistin, Rhizolex, and Thiophenate M gave almost absolute inhibition of R. solani growth. It is envisaged that under field conditions also these fungicides would be potent enough to give high level of disease control.

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0501|AGRIS 0501|AL-Maize Program

CIMMYT Staff Publications Collection