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Research Article - (2017) Volume 8, Issue 12

Evaluation of Fungicides and Bio-agent against Neck Blast Disease of Rice

Ghimire P1*, Gopal KC2, Shrestha SM2 and Parajuli G3
1Department of Plant Protection, Himalayan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (HICAST), Kathmandu, Nepal
2Department of Plant Pathology, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Kathmandu, Nepal
3Division of Plant Pathology, Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Lalitpur, Nepal
*Corresponding Author: Ghimire P, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Protection, Himalayan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (HICAST), Kathmandu, Nepal, Tel: 977-9841169935 Email:

Abstract

Blast disease caused by Pyricularia grisea, is one of the most devastating diseases of rice in most rice producing areas of the world. In Nepal, the disease causes 10%-20% yield reduction in susceptible varieties, but in severe case, it goes up to 80%. Chemicals are commonly applied for controlling rice blast disease, but when chemicals are used indiscriminately, they also pose a serious threat to the environment. An experiment was conducted to check the efficacy against neck blast disease of rice variety “DY-69” (a Chinese variety) with Hexaconazole 5 SC, Tricyclozole 76 WP and Kasugamycin 3% SL as chemical fungicides while with Trichoderma viridae as biological agent during June to November 2014 in experimental plot with four replications at Plant Pathology Division of Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Lalitpur. The treatments were applied two times in the field i.e. at tillering stage, i.e. 35 days after transplanting (DAT), and at booting stage, i.e. 65 DAT. Disease incidence, disease index, test weight and total yield were calculated and mean computed. Disease scoring of neck blast was done following the standard scoring system developed by SES (2002). Tricyclazole appeared better to control the neck blast disease followed by Hexaconazole determined in terms of disease incidence, disease index, test weight and total yield. However, T. viridae appeared quite comparable to tricyclazole. So, use of T. viridae as an option of bio-agent to control a disease will be ecofriendly measure and more study in its dose and application should be tested in field to verify the results and to control the blast of rice. Thus, using appropriate fungicide or bio-agents (alternative to fungicide) help in reducing health hazard by minimizing adverse impact on environment.

Keywords: Blast disease; Rice; Fungal disease; Fungicides; Pyricularia grisea

Introduction

Blast disease is one of the most devastating diseases of both the seasons that occurs in all rice growing areas. The disease, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae (Hebert) Barr., anamorph Pyricularia oryzae [1-3], is an important fungal disease of rice known to occur in most rice producing areas of the world [1]. Rice blast is the most common and destructive disease in irrigated rice of both temperate and subtropical areas of East Asia [4].

In Nepal, the disease causes 10%-20% yield reduction in susceptible varieties, but in severe case, it goes up to 80% [2]. Panicle infection causes complete yield loss [1]. Yield reduction by neck blast infection is twice as severe as the leaf blast [5]. Blast can be successfully controlled through the fungicidal spray and seed treatment with systemic fungicide [6]. Chemicals are commonly applied for controlling rice blast disease [7]. Biological control may be an approach of blast control which is also an eco-friendly and cost- effective measure.

Objective: To evaluate efficacy of fungicides and bio-agents against neck blast disease of rice.

Methodology

An experiment was conducted to evaluate efficacy of fungicides and bio-control agent in management of neck blast by determining different parameters like disease incidence, disease index, Test weight and total grain yield, June to November 2014 in farm of plant pathology division, NARC, Khumaltar, Lalitpur. Disease scoring of neck blast was done after second application of the treatments, i.e. 75 days after transplanting selecting 10 hills of each plot following the standard scoring system developed by SES (2002). Diseases index (intensity) of neck blast was calculated by using the following formula from the data scored on a 0-9 scale above.

equation

Similarly, disease incidence and total grain yield were computed using the formula as below:

equation

equation

Where, MC: Original moisture content of grains in percentage after harvesting.

Thousand grain weight (test weight) was also taken/plot and mean values/treatment were calculated.

Discussion

The treatments significantly (P=0.05) reduced neck blast disease as compared to control (Table 1). Minimum disease severity (16.50%) was recorded with Tricyclozole, followed by Hexaconazole (26.5%), which were not significantly different to each other. while disease incidence was minimum with Hexaconzole (29.29%) and then in Tricyclazole (34.26%), which were also not considerably different to each other. T. viridae was least effective (50%) to reduce the disease.

Treatments Disease incidence (%) Disease index (%)
Tricyclozole 34.26c 16.50d
Hexaconazole 29.89c 26.50cd
Kasugamycin 49.09b 36.50c
Trichoderma viridae 49.56b 50.00b
Control 60.20a 65.00a
Mean 44.6 38.9
Coefficient of variation (%) 10.95 18.3
LSD value at a 0.05 7.25 10.99
SEM value ± 23.9 3.57
Probability * *

Figures followed by the same letter in a column are not significantly different by DMRT at 5% level. LSD: Least Significant Difference; SEM: Standard Error of Mean Difference; *: Significant at 5% Level.

Table 1: Effect of treatments on neck blast severity of rice in field at NARC, Khumaltar.

Tricyclazole and Hexaconazole were found significantly different with other treatments in reducing disease incidence, while in case of disease index Tricyclazole was significantly different with Kasugamycin, T. viridae and control, but Hexaconazole was significantly different with only T. viridae and control.

Test weight of rice genotypes differed significantly among the treatments. Tricyclazole had significantly highest test weight (29.03 g) than all the other treatments (Table 2). Hexaconazole had second highest (24.08 g) value.

Treatments Test weight Total grain yield
(gm) (t ha-1)
Tricyclozole 29.03a 3.473a
Hexaconazole 24.08b 3.079b
Kasugamycin 22.35bc 2.631c
Trichoderma viridae 22.23bc 2.411d
Control 20.20c 1.878e
Mean 23.58 2.694
Coefficient of variation (%) 6.7 4.2
LSD value at a 0.05 2.417 0.1752
SEM value ± 0.784 0.0569
Probability * *

Figures followed by the same letter in a column are not significantly different by DMRT at 5% level; LSD: Least Significant Difference; SEM: Standard Error of Mean Difference; *: Significant at 5% Level.

Table 2: Effect of treatments on test weight and grain yield of rice in field at NARC, Khumaltar.

Total grain yield was statistically significant (P=0.05) among the treatments. It was highest in Tricyclazole (3.473 t ha-1), followed by Hexaconazole (3.079 t ha-1) and Kasu-B (2.631 tha-1) (Tables 1 and 2). Minimum yield (2.411 t ha-1) was obtained from T. viridae except control (1.878 t ha-1).

Conclusion

Tricyclazole appeared better to control neck blast disease of rice than all other treatments. Though, T. viridae, bio-agent, appeared less effective to the Neck blast disease, it is quite comparable to other treatments. So, tricyclazole should be preferred as chemical fungicide and bio-agent can also be used as alternative to chemical fungicides to control the blast of rice in field. Thus, using minimum dose of appropriate fungicide or bio-agents, alternative to fungicide help in reducing health hazard by minimizing adverse impact on environment.

Acknowledgements

This study was conducted with the help of Nepal agriculture research council and Institute of agriculture and animal science. It is also acknowledged to Prof. Dr. Gopal Bahadur K.C., Ph.D., Prof. DR. Sundarman Shrestha and senior scientist Gopal Prasad Parajuli for his persistent encouragement, constant supervision, excellent guidance and invaluable suggestions.

Author Contributions

During the course of experimental period, all the authors involved contributed their precious time and effort. Professor, Dr. Gopal K.C. was involved during experiment, initial from planning of experiment to till preparing manuscript. As well, Professor, Dr. Sundarman Shrestha had also involved and provided clear guidelines in conducting research in laboratory. Senior scientist, Mr. Gopal Parajuli had involved in creating a research environment and supervised in all step conducted in research process. Finally, Assistance. Professor, Mr. Prakash Ghimire had involved in all activities from planning for experiment, performing laboratory works, analyzing data and preparing manuscript.

References

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