Using some fungicide-alternatives to control late wilt of maize and improve its growth.

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University.

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is suffering from late wilt which consider the most destructive disease in Egypt. Pot experiments were carried out to evaluate the potentiality of some biocontrol agents (Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum), natural essential oils (camphor, marjoram and sesame oil) and mineral nutrition substances (potassium sulphate and calcium nitrate) to control late wilt disease on maize caused by Magnaporthiopsis maydis and improve its growth. All the tested treatments were capable to cause significant reduction of infection percent and number of infected internodes in the three tested maize cultivars when used as soil treatments. Also, they significantly increased stem fresh weight/plant (g), stem dry weight/plant (g), leaves fresh weight/plant (g) and leaves dry weight/plant (g) compared with control treatment. The biocontrol agent Trichoderma harzianum, marjoram oil and calcium nitrate proved to be the most effective treatments in this regard.

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