Management of sesame charcoal rot incited by Macrophomina phaseolina by using resistant cultivars, soil and seed treatments

Sesame is the most important crop of the world. The nutritional value of sesame lies in its high protein contents. It suffers from several diseases but among them charcoal rot is most destructive disease caused by Macrophomina phaseolina. Despite all the advancement in production .technologies, a considerable portion of sesame production is lost every year due to this disease over the world. The present study is designed for management of charcoal rot of sesame by using screening trials of available germplasm, soil amendments and seed treatment through different chemicals. Eight varieties/lines (Black Till, 20011, 40009, 87002, 87008, 95002, TH-6 and TS-3) were collected from Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad and screened against charcoal rot disease. Screening trial was conducted in Research area of Department of Plant Pathology. Data was recorded by using disease rating scale of (Dinkaran et al., 1996). Among Eight varieties/lines one variety (Black Till) showed resistant behavior. One line (20011) showed moderately resistant behavior, while three lines (40009, 87008 and 95002) showed susceptibility and one line (87002) and two varieties (TH6, TS-3) showed highly susceptible against test pathogen. The efficacy of different fungicides at various concentrations was evaluated against test pathogen through pot culture assay in green house conditions. Among five fungicides (Hombre, Copper Oxychloride, Topsin-M, Carbendazim, Metallaxyl + Mancozeb) evaluated Carbendazim gave maximum disease reduction (55.74) % at 150 ppm concentration as compared to control under greenhouse conditions, when used as seed treatment. Minimum disease reduction was given by Copper oxychloride, (43.24) at 150 ppm concentration when used as seed treatment. Among five fungicides (Hombre, Copper oxychloride, Topsin-M, Carbendazim, Metallaxyl + Mancozeb) evaluated Topsin M gave maximum disease reduction (58.21) at 150 ppm as compared to control when used as soil treatment. Minimum disease reduction was given by Copper oxychloride, (43.65) at 150 ppm concentration when used as soil treatment.