Investigation of Bio Fungicidal Properties of Crude Extracts of Neem Leaf against Blast Disease of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana)

The efficacy of neem leaf extract against finger millet blast pathogen Magnaporthe grisea was assessed invitro. The neem leaf extract significantly inhibits the pathogen mycelial growth and melanin biosynthesis. Neem leaf extract shows 84.33 % inhibition of the pathogen over control. Volatile test infer that no volatile compounds were found to be involved in growth inhibition and melanin production inhibition. In field experiments foliar spray with neem leaf extract 5%, 10% and 15% along with chemical Tricyclazole 0.1% and Picoxystrobin 6.78% + Tricyclazole 0.1 % was done. Data recorded on leaf blast PDI at 15, 25 and 40 days after transplanting revealed that lower leaf blast PDI of 17.72, 16.45 and 15.45 respectively was recorded in neem leaf extract (T1,T2,T3) which is comparatively similar with chemical treatment 1 and 2 PDI 13.00 and 10.90. In neem leaf extract treated field a significant yield increase was also observed.