Exploration of Bacillus species and AMF in the management of sesame root rot (Macrophomina phseaolina) and leaf blight (Alternaria sesame): EXPLORATION OF BACILLUS AND AMF IN MANAGEMENT OF SESAME ROOT ROT AND LEAF BLIGHT

Sesame is liable to be infected by various pathogenic fungi like leaf blight and root rot at all the stages of crop growth. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of bio-agents on managing the diseases in sesame. Seed treatment with Bacillus subtilis (TNAU-Bs1) @ 20 ml/kg seed + soil application of VAM @ 50 kg/ha at 15 DAS + foliar application of liquid formulation of B. amyloliquefaciens (TNAU-PP-CC-B-0171) @ 0.75% on 45 DAS was found to record very less leaf blight (18.12 PDI) and root rot incidence (4.24%) by recording 62.58 and 90.39 per cent disease reduction over control respectively in rabi season. Similar kind of results were obtained during kharif season which recorded the minimum root rot incidence (6.92%), leaf blight (14.98 PDI) by recording 64.55 and 85.05 per cent disease reduction over control respectively.