Integration of bioagent, Bacillus subtilis Bbv57 and fungicides for the management of foliar diseases of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Groundnut or Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a major oilseed crop widely grown in major tropical andsub-tropical regions oftheworld. Disease occurrence pose a majorthreat in groundnut cultivation. Among the biotic stresses, foliar fungal diseases viz., early leaf spot (ELS) caused by Cercospora arachidicola Hori, late leaf spot (LLS) caused by Phaeoisariopsis personata (Berk. & Curt.) V.Arx (=Mycosphaerella berkeleyi Jenkins) and rust caused by Puccinia arachidis Speg. are the most widely distributed and economically important diseases ofgroundnut and account for more than 50% yield loss. Field experiments were conducted during kharif 2021 andrabi/summer 2021-22 for the management of foliar diseases in groundnut using bioagent, Bacillus subtilis Bbv57talc formulation and fungicides. The results ofthe field experiment conducted during kharif 2021 revealed that seed treatment with Bacillus subtilis Bbv57 talc formulation @ 10 g/kg seed followed by foliar spray of Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25% @ 1 g/l at 40 and 60 DAS was effective in managing the foliar diseases of groundnut with the late leaf spot (20.9 PDI) and rust (12.3 PDI) as compared to control which recorded late leaf spot of 71.4 PDI and rust of 52.1 PDI respectively. The maximum pod yield of 2361 kg/ha and haulm yield of 2764 kg/ha were observed in the effective treatment; whereas minimum pod yield of 1836 kg/ha and haulm yield of 1984 kg/ha were observed in the control. Similar trend was observed during rabi/summer 2021-22.