Journal of Environmental Biology

Role of micronutrients in defense to white rust and Alternaria blight infecting Indian mustard

A.S. Rathi¹*,? Dhiraj Singh², Ram Avtar² and Pawan Kumar¹

¹Department of Plant Pathology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004, India

²Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: rathias1961@gmail.com

Publication Data

Paper received:

07 September 2013

Revised received:

31 January 2014

Accepted:

20 June 2014

Abstract

Field experiments were carried out at Oilseeds Research Area of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during rabi, 2008-09 to 2011-12 to find out the possible role of soil application of different micronutrients alone and in combinations in defense to white rust and Alternaria blight diseases in Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss.]. Among the sole application of micronutrients, minimum disease severity of both white rust (35.0 %) and Alternaria blight (31.8 %) was observed when S @ 40 kg ha^-1 in the form of Gypsum was applied as basal dose in the soil. When Gypsum was supplemented with Borax @ 10 kg ha^-1 or with ZnSO4 @ 15 kg ha^-1 the level of tolerance seems to be improved for both the diseases as compared to the sole treatment of each nutrient i.e. ZnSO₄ @ 15kg/ha, Borax @ 10 kg ha-1 and Gypsum @ 250 kg ha^-1. Furthermore, minimum disease severity of both white rust (31.3 %) and Alternaria blight (26.3 %) was observed with soil application of ZnSO₄ @ 15 kg ha^-1 + Borax @ 10 kg ha^-1 + Gypsum @ 250 kg ha^-1 as basal dose? as compared to the severity of white rust (43.6%) and Alternaria blight (38.6%) in untreated check. Significant increase in seed yield (1612 kg ha^-1) was also recorded in above mentioned treatment as compared to the yield (1337 kg ha^-1) in untreated check. These findings will also be helpful in maintaining soil health and minimizing the losses due to both the fungal diseases for eco-friendly sustainability of Indian mustard. ??   

 Key words

Alternaria blight, Indian mustard, Micronutrients, White rust 

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