Survey of ergot disease of pearl millet caused by Claviceps fusiformis (Loveless). in Marathwada region district of Chh. Sambhaji Nagar (MH)

Introduction

Pearl millet Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. is the Fifth most important staple cereal crop in the world. It is staple crop also provides good quality fodder to cattle in the arid and semiarid tropical regions and recognized as valuable forage crop because of its robust and fast growth habit. Its stalk is used for fuel and thatching. It grains also called "Balvardhak" because it contains fiber which helps to the better digestion and reduces indigestion, gasses and acidity. The low amount of carbohydrates in grain, control to the cholesterol and reduce heart diseases. It is also saving from the danger of high blood pressure. The use of Bajra grains control to the blood sugar. The grains use of Bajra strengthened to the bones due to high amount of calcium. Jinu et.al (2023) [1] . Pearl millet suffers from a number of fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases, witch weed (Striga asiatica), and nematodes. Diseases that are considered economically important, in order of their loss causing potential, are downy mildew (Sclcropora grtmrinila Sacc. Schroet.) ergot (Claviceps fusiformis Loveless) smut (Tolyposporium penicillariae Bref.), and rust (Pucinia penniseti Zimm). Marathwada region comprising Beed, Jalna and Aurangabad is the major pearl millet growing area of the state as these three districts jointly contribute more than 80% share in area and production of this crop in the state. Marathwada region occupies 0.137 M ha with an annual production 1.22 MT and productivity of 994 kg ha -1 . The ergot of Bajra (pearl millet) was first reported from south India. The first report of its occurrence in epidemic form was made in 1956 from south 'Satara' area of Maharashtra.

Natarajan et al. (1974) [6] estimated the average incidence to be about 62.4% with grain loss of about 58%.

Materials and Methods

A random survey was conducted in different locations of Farmers fields in Chh. Sambhaji Nagar district during kharif 2023-24 at flowering and soft dought stage of crop and the incidence of ergot was recorded. The infected samples of pearl millet showing the symptoms of ergot (Honeydew) was collected from the farmer's field of Chh. Sambhaji Nagar district and brought to the laboratory for further studies. In each field 1m 2 quadrate areas is select randomly and in that total number of disease infected plants was counted based on prominent visual symptoms only. From this data, the percentage of disease incidence was calculated by using the following formula. Following proforma was utilized during survey. Disease severity was recorded on a standard 0-8 disease rating scale 0 to8 scale of (Thakur and king 1988) [5] .

Rating scale [5] Results and Discussion 1. Occurrence and distribution of ergot disease In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts, an extensive random survey was carried out in the kharif 2023, close to the blooming to soft dough stage of bajra crop growing farmer's fields. The goal of the survey was to determine the prevalence of Claviceps fusiformis caused pearl millet ergot in a total of 27 villages distributed in 9 tehsils. The ergot of pearl millet was seen to change between locations, most likely as a result of varying soil types, cultivars employed, cultivation techniques, environmental factors, etc.

Ergot disease incidence

The result persented in (table. 1) indicated that ergot disease was recorded in the range of 5.50 to 22.00 percent in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. With overall average mean of 13.19 percent or %. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts, the highest disease incidence of (22.00%) was noticed at village Pimpri Kh (Kannad Tehsil), and the least (5.50%) disease incidence was recorded at Pathri (Phulambari Tehsil).

Variety-Wise disease incidence

The findings displayed in Table 2 and Fig 1 demonstrated that the average ergot disease incidence of the pearl millet cultivars and varieties planted by farmers during the kharif 2023-2024 ranged from 8.04 Poineer86M38 to 16.33 (local) percent. However, maximum average disease incidence was recorded on local (16.33%); this was followed by hybrid Mahodya318 (15%), NHB-4 (13.20%), ABH1200 (11.20%), Samrudhi (7.75%), and the least average disease incidence recorded on Poineer86M38 (8.04%). The mean average of ergot of pearl millet incidence was recorded to the tune of 11.64 percent.

Tehsil-wise disease incidence

The data presented in table 3 and Fig 2 clearly indicated that the incidence of ergot of pearl millet across the all tehsils was observed varied from 16.00 (Vaijapur) to 8.00 (Phulambari Tehsil) percent with the average mean of 13.19 percent. The maximum ergot incidence was observed in Vaijapur tehsil (16.00%) followed by Paithan (15.33%), Kannad (14.50%) and Gangapur (14.63%) and the least in Phulambri tehsil (8.00%). Similarly, The results present study on the prevalence of ergot disease of pearl millet caused by Claviceps fusiformis recorded are in consonance with the earlier reports of several workers, viz., Poonam Kumari et al. (2022) [4] , the present investigation on "sclerotial status of pearl millet seed samples in Kharif 2019 in Rajasthan." The maximum mean sclerotia percent (on a weight basis) was found in Alwar tehsil (3.44 percent), and the minimum was found in Phulera tehsil (1.20 percent). The overall mean sclerotia percent recorded was 2.63 percent. Lubadde et al. (2014): Conducted disease survey of ergot in 2012 in the farmers' fields in the predominantly pearl millet growing districts of Kumi and Katakwi in northern Uganda is terms of incidence ergot (Claviceps fusiformis) it was observed (62.98%). Moreover, Kumar et al. (1997) [2] conducted field survey for prevalence of ergot in Haryana and reported the 9-16% prevalence of disease with average mean of 12.50% resulting with significant yield loss.

Conclusion

The survey conducted in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district during kharif 2023 revealed significant variability in the incidence of ergot disease (Claviceps fusiformis) in pearl millet crops across different villages, tehsils, and varieties. The overall disease incidence ranged from 5.50% to 22.00%, with an average mean of 13.19%. The highest disease incidence was recorded in Pimpri Kh village (22.00%), while the least was observed in Pathri village (5.50%). Local varieties exhibited the highest susceptibility, with a 16.33% disease incidence, whereas Poineer86M38 showed the lowest (8.04%). Tehsil-wise, Vaijapur recorded the maximum incidence (16.00%), and Phulambari had the least (8.00%). These findings align with previous studies on ergot prevalence, underscoring the need for targeted management strategies to reduce disease impact.

References

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2. Kumar S, Panwar MS, Chand JN. Survey on ergot disease of pearl millet caused by Claviceps fusiformis in Haryana. Plant Disease Research. 1997;12(1):41-43.
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