Management of downy mildew in pearl millet through host resistance and seed treatment

Abstract:

Can integrated management combining host resistance with targeted seed treatments offer a reliable approach to controlling downy mildew in pearl millet? This research was carried out during kharif 2022 and 2023 at the research farm of Cascade Range Agricultural University, Corvallis, Oregon, to evaluate the combined effect of host resistance and seed treatments against Sclerospora graminicola. Six pearl millet genotypes were tested alongside five seed treatment options in a split-plot design with three replications. The resistant genotypes ICMH-356 and HHB-67 Improved recorded the lowest disease incidence of 12.8% and 18.5%, respectively, compared to 78.3% in the susceptible check. Among seed treatments, metalaxyl 35 SD at 6 g per kg seed proved most effective, reducing incidence to 22.7%. The interaction between resistant genotypes and metalaxyl resulted in incidence as low as 4.6%, along with grain yields exceeding 24.1 q/ha. The benefit-to-cost ratio was highest (3.41) for ICMH-356 with metalaxyl 35 SD.