Efficacy of Bio-agents and Botanicals against leaf Spot (Cercospora arachidicola Hori) of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Among all oilseed crops, groundnut (Arachis hypogeae L.) is one of the principal oilseed crops of the world. The groundnut is affected by various diseases like early leaf spot, late leaf spot, rust, crown rot or seeding blight, stem rot and collar rot. Among these important fungal diseases, leaf spot caused by Phaeosiariopsis personata van Arx (late leaf spot) and Cercospora arachidicola Hori (early leaf spot) are the most serious diseases causing premature defoliation. Several diseases like leaf spot, tikka, rust, peanut bud necrosis, collar rot, and anthracnose are constraints to the yield. The yield losses due to leaf spot disease ranges from 10 to 50 per cent. Considering the importance of groundnut crop and losses caused by leaf spots present study was undertaken with an objective to find out the efficacy of bio-agents and botanicals against Leaf spot (Cercospora arachidicola Hori) disease of groundnut. A field trial was conducted in kharif season of 2016 to test the effect of foliar spray of bio-agents and botanicals against Leaf spot disease of groundnut. The treatments included mancozeb 75%WP 2g/lit (treated check), Garlic extract 20 %, Trichoderma viride 5 %, Pseudomonas fluorescens 5 %, Neem leaf extract 20 % and Datura leaf extract 20 %. All the treatments used as foliage application and control with water spray. Mancozeb 75% WP 2g/lit was used as treated check and found superior among all the treatments in managing the leaf spot followed by Trichoderma viride 5 %.