Eco-friendly management of sheath blight disease in barnyard millet (Echinochloa crusgalli) incited by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn

Sheath blight, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, threatens barnyard millet (Echinochloa crusgalli), a nutrient-rich cereal critical for food security in India. This study evaluates eco-friendly disease management strategies, including seed treatment, seed biopriming, and organic amendments colonized with biocontrol agents (Trichoderma asperellum, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis), under field conditions in Uttarakhand. The pathogen was identified via morphological and microscopic analyses. Field trials using a Randomized Block Design assessed disease incidence, severity, and control efficacy across 36 plots. Results showed that farm yard manure (FYM) pre-colonized with a consortium of bioagents achieved 100% disease control efficacy, outperforming individual seed treatments. The study highlights the synergistic potential of bioinoculants in reducing disease incidence and severity, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic fungicides. These findings underscore the role of bioagents in promoting resilient, ecofriendly agriculture in India.