Effect of Irrigation Schedule on the development of charcoal rot of maize under artificial inoculation conditions

Abstract

This experiment was conducted in Field Experimental Area, Maize Section, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), Ludhiana during spring seasons 2018 and 2019 to investigate the Effect of irrigation schedules on the development of charcoal rot of maize under artificial inoculation conditions. In this experiment, PMH 10 hybrid was sown in three replications. Three Irrigation schedules were used. Level I=Excess irrigation (additional irrigation at tasseling and silking stage), Level II = Local practice, Level III = Stress at tasseling and silking stage, with randomized block design. Results showed that minimum mean disease severity (36.28%) and maximum mean grain yield (72.61q/ha) was recorded in irrigation schedule level I (additional irrigation at tasseling and silking stage) followed by irrigation schedule level II (Local practices). Maximum mean disease severity (50.81 %) and minimum mean grain yield (60.25 q/ha) was recorded in irrigation schedule level III (Stress at tasseling and silking stage). Hence, water stress at tasseling stage aggravated the disease severity, resulting in reduction in grain yield.