Studies of fungal diseases of forage grasses

Abstract

A study of different fungal diseases of various forage grasses cultivated in Kerala showed that H. gramineum, F. graminearum and C. trifoli are prominent pathogens. Best growth of H. gramineum and F. graminearum were in Czapek (Dox) agar, while Curvularia trifoli grew best in Richards medium. All the pathogens were favoured by a temperature of 250 C. All the graminaceous hosts studied were susceptible to H. gramineum and F. graminearum. However, Curvularia trifoli infected paddy, congosignal and para grass, among the graminaceous hosts. Susceptibility to non-graminaceous hosts indicated that none of the pathogen’s could infect eupatorium, clerodendron, Papaya and Jack. In vitro evaluation of fungicides revealed that Bordeaux mixture 1 per cent and 1.5 per cent were found to be superior in inhibiting the growth of H. gramineum, F. graminearum, and C. trifoli. A field trial carried out has shown that blight disease caused by H. gramineum in hybrid napier was least in treatment combination of Dithane M-45 0.3 per cent, with NPK @ 200:50:62.5 kg/ha. In general, higher dose of potash favoured disease management. A fungicidal trial carried out revealed that Dithane M-45 0.3 per cent and Bordeaux mixture 1 per cent were effective in controlling blight disease of hybrid napier.