In Vitro Evaluation of Fungicides and Biocontrol Agents Against Exserohilum monoceras Causing Leaf Spot Disease of Barnyard Millet
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/jpds.2026.21.01.14Keywords:
Barnyard millet, Exserohilum monoceras, Fungicides, Leaf spotAbstract
Barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea) is a highly nutritious and fast-growing cereal crop valued for its resilience, adaptability, and rich nutritional profile. It is particularly suitable for individuals with gluten intolerance and celiac disease, making it an important crop for sustainable agriculture and food security. However, its productivity is considerably constrained by several biotic stresses, among which leaf spot disease caused by Exserohilum monoceras is one of the most destructive.
The present study investigated the cultural characteristics of E. monoceras and evaluated the efficacy of selected bioagents and fungicides against the pathogen under in vitro conditions. Among the solid media tested, Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), Czapek’s Dox Agar, and Oat Meal Agar supported the maximum radial growth of the fungus, followed by Yeast Extract Potato Agar, while Corn Meal Agar recorded the least fungal growth.
Six bioagents were evaluated using the dual culture technique. Trichoderma harzianum proved to be the most effective antagonist, exhibiting 77.03% inhibition of mycelial growth, followed by Trichoderma viride with 71.50% inhibition.
The efficacy of six fungicides was assessed using the poisoned food technique. All fungicides significantly inhibited the growth of E. monoceras. Among them, Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% WP and Azoxystrobin 18.2% + Difenoconazole 11.4% SC were the most effective treatments, completely inhibiting the mycelial growth of the pathogen under in vitro conditions.
References
Anand, Y. R., Begum, S., Dangmei, R., & Nath, P. S. (2013). Evaluation of trifloxystrobin 25% + tebuconazole 50% (Nativo 75% WG) against Exserohilum turcicum causing leaf blight disease of maize. Journal of Crop and Weed, 9(2), 198–200.
FAOSTAT. (2021). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Statistics Division. FAO, Rome. Available at: http://www.fao.org/faostat
Gomashe, S. S. (2017). Barnyard millet: Present status and future thrust areas. In Millets and Sorghum: Biology and Genetic Improvement (pp. 184–198).
Govanakoppa, N., Jagadeesh, B. R., Anitha, J. S., & Hussain, K. N. J. (2024). Recombinant breeding in barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea L.): Pioneering high-yield varieties for sustainable agriculture. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports, 30(11), 826–833.
Harb, H. E., El-Tabakh, M. A., Khattab, A. M., Mohamed, Y. A., Saleh, A. M., & El-Abeid, S. E. (2024). Recent advances in using innovative strategies in management of millet plant pathogens. In Genetic Improvement of Small Millets (pp. 297–328). Springer Nature, Singapore.
Harlapur, S. I., Kulkarni, M. S., Hegde, Y., & Kulkarni, S. (2007). Variability in Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.) Leonard and Suggs, the causal agent of turcicum leaf blight of maize. Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 20(3), 665–666.
Johnston, A., & Booth, C. (1983). Plant Pathologist's Pocketbook. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew, Surrey, England.
Khedekar, S. A., Harlapur, S. I., Kulkarni, S., & Benagi, V. I. (2012). Evaluation of fungicides, botanicals and bioagents against turcicum leaf blight of maize caused by Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.) Leonard and Suggs. International Journal of Plant Protection, 5(1), 58–62.
Kumar, [Initials not provided], & Mauriya, A. K. (2015). Effect of fungicides and plant extracts for management of turcicum leaf blight of maize. The Bioscan, 10(4), 1687–1690.
Mageshwaran, V., Paulraj, S., & Nagaraju, Y. (2023). Current insights into the role of rhizosphere bacteria in disease suppression in millets. In Millet Rhizosphere (pp. 121–147). Springer Nature, Singapore.
Manu, T. G., Gangadhara, N. B., Sayipratap, B. R., & Mahantesh, S. B. (2017). Efficacy of fungicides, botanicals and bioagents against Exserohilum turcicum. Science Review Letters, 6(24), 2100–2107.
Morita, A., Yoshimoto, S., Kosuke, I., & Chihiro, T. (2013). Teleomorph formation of Setosphaeria monoceras, the perfect state of Exserohilum monoceras, by Japanese isolates. Mycoscience, 53(2), 144–146.
Morton, D. J., & Stroube, W. H. (1955). Antagonistic and stimulating effects of soil microorganisms on Sclerotium. Phytopathology, 45, 417–420.
Nataraj, K. (2014). Studies on toxin production, variability and management of turcicum leaf blight of maize caused by Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.) Leonard and Suggs (M.Sc. (Agri.) Thesis). University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka, India.
Nehru, G., Reddy, A. T., Reddy, C. V. C. M., & Sreenivasulu, K. N. (2023). Study of genetic diversity in Indian barnyard millet genetic resources (Echinochloa frumentacea L.). International Journal of Environment and Climate Change, 13(10), 3094–3110.
Prabu, R., Vanniarajan, C., Vetrivanthan, M., Gnanamalar, R. P., Shanmughasundaram, R., & Ramalingam, J. (2020). Diversity and stability studies in barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea (Roxb.) Link.) germplasm for grain yield and its contributing traits. Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding, 11(2), 528–537.
Ramachandra, C. G. (2000). Studies on leaf blight of dicoccum wheat caused by Exserohilum hawaiiensis (M.Sc. (Agri.) Thesis). University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, India.
Ramesh, G. V., Palanna, K. B., Khan, F., Rajashekhara, H., Rajesh, F. G., & Das, I. K. (2024). Major diseases of small millets and their management strategies. In Genetic Improvement of Small Millets (pp. 87–118). Springer Nature, Singapore.
Rashmi, R. (2015). Epidemiology and disease resistance in maize against turcicum leaf blight (Exserohilum turcicum) (M.Sc. (Agri.) Thesis). University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka, India.
Rawat, L., Bisht, T. S., Prasad, S., Samuel, T., & Patro, S. K. (2018). Management of important endemic diseases of barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea L.) by the use of biocontrol agents in mid hills of Uttarakhand, India. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 7(2), 64–70.
Reddy, T. R., Reddy, N. P., Reddy, R. R., & Reddy, S. S. (2013). Management of turcicum leaf blight of maize caused by Exserohilum turcicum. International Journal of Scientific Research Publications, 3(10), 1–4.
Singh, V., & Singh, Y. (2014). Evaluation of Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens isolates for their antagonistic potential against Exserohilum turcicum causing leaf blight of sorghum. The Bioscan, 9(3), 1171–1175.
USDA-NRCS. (2002). Plant Materials Program. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Available at: http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov
Vincent, J. M. (1947). Distortion of fungal hyphae in the presence of certain inhibitors. Nature, 159, 850.
Hadalagi, M. K., Sarnobat, D. H., Gaikwad, R. T., Patode, S. S., & Adhari, Y. N. (2026). In vitro evaluation of fungicides and biocontrol agents against Exserohilum monoceras inciting leaf spot disease of barnyard millet. Journal of Plant Disease Sciences, 21(1), 79–84. https://doi.org/10.48165/jpds.2026.21.01.14
