Journal of Plant Pathology & Microbiology

Abstract

Suitability of Nano-sulphur for Biorational Management of Powdery mildew of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus Moench) caused by Erysiphe cichoracearum

Robin Gogoi, Pradeep Kumar Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Kishore Kumar Nair, Imteyaz Alam, Chitra Srivastava, Saurabh Yadav, Madhuban Gopal, Samrat Roy Choudhury and Arunava Goswami

New nano-sulphur synthesized at IARI and three other commercial products namely commercial sulphur (Merck), commercial nano-sulphur (M K Impex, Canada) and Sulphur 80 WP (Corel Insecticide) were evaluated in vitro for fungicidal efficacy at 1000 ppm against Erysiphe cichoracearum of okra. All the sulphur fungicides significantly reduced the germination of conidia of E. cichoracearum as compared to control. Least conidial germination was recorded in IARI nano-sulphur (4.56%) followed by Canadian nanosulphur (14.17%), Merck sulphur (15.53%), sulphur 80 WP (15.97%) and control (23.09%). Non-germinated conidia count was also high in case of IARI nanosulphur followed by Canadian nano-sulphur, Merck sulphur and Sulphur 80WP. Apart from inhibition of conidial germination, cleistothecial appendages were also disrupted in contact with nano-sulphur and the cleistothecia
became sterile. The study proved that IARI nano-sulphur is more effective than the commercial formulations and could be applied at lower amount for controlling powdery mildew disease for its better efficacy.