Integrated management of two foliar diseases of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in maize/sesame intercrop

Summary in the original language of the document

The quest for alternative method in managing diseases in crop production as against the use of prohibitive synthetic chemicals which are harmful to human health has been receiving serious attention by scientists in the last two decades. Two field trials were conducted during the early and late cropping seasons of 2010 to evaluate the effect of nine treatments (Tithonia diversifolia and Chromolaena odorata sprayed at 7.0, 7.5 and 8.0%, sesame sprayed with distilled water, sesame intercropped with maize and sole sesame) on the control of Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) and Alternaria leaf blight (ALB) diseases and agronomic performance of sesame in the transition zone. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. The treatments imposed significantly (P<0.05; F-test) affected all the measured parameters. Number of lesions of CLS and lesion size of ALB were significantly (P<0.05) reduced when 8.0% of T. diversifolia extract was sprayed on intercropped sesame relative to the sole sesame and sesame sprayed with distilled water. Similarly, application of 7.5 and 8.0% of T. diversifolia extract resulted in comparatively high values for number and weight of capsules per plant, seed weight per plant and grain yield of intercropped sesame. Intercropped sesame (unsprayed) was on par with the sprayed intercropped sesame for most of the parameters measured. Application of T. diversifolia at 7.5 and 8.0% is recommended for managing CLS and ALB diseases in intercropped sesame in the humid tropics.