Ecofriendly alternative for sustainable management of banded leaf and sheath blight of maize (Zea mays)

Banded leaf and sheath blight (BLSB) of maize (Zea mays L.) caused by Rhizoctonia solani f. sp. sasakii is one the most important yield-limiting factors faced growers in India. Therefore, attempts were made to identify promising suitable bioagents for management BLSB maize. Present study was carried out check efficacy two bioformulations, viz. Pusa Th3 (Trichoderma harzianum) Cg2 (Chaetomium globosum) against Vivek QPM-9 cultivar under field conditions during kharif 2018 2019 using seven different treatments. All treatments significantly reduced disease incidence contributed higher yield as compared positive control. The lowest per cent index (37.87 53.17%) recorded case both seedtreatment foliar spray with T. harzianum. It gave 40.39% control also increased up 28.47% over unprotected plot. concluded that can be managed seed treatment harzianum @2 g/kg seed, followed @0.1% at 30 days after sowing. Sustainable ecofriendly options identified help not only safeguarding crop but increase cost: benefit ratio. In addition, results indicated bio formulation used substitute chemical fungicides especially controlling