Management of Fusarium Wilt Disease in Sesame (Sesamum indicum) through Seed Treatment and Soil Amendment

Sesame holds a dominant position in global agriculture, primarily due to its rich protein content. This crop, however, faces a considerable threat in the form of Fusarium wilt, caused by the destructive Fusarium oxysporum. Despite advancements in agricultural technology, a significant portion of worldwide sesame production continues to be marred by this devastating disease. To address this issue, the current study was designed to manage Fusarium wilt in sesame through a series of screening trials involving various varieties, soil amendments, and seed treatments using different chemicals. The screening trial was carried out at the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute; with disease severity recorded using the rating scale. Among the six varieties/lines assessed, two varieties (Black Till and Till-18) exhibited resistance to the disease. To combat Fusarium wilt, the efficacy of different fungicides at varying concentrations was evaluated via petri plate culture assays in laboratory conditions. Among the three fungicides tested (Topsin-M, Carbendazim, Metallaxyl+Mancozeb), Carbendazim displayed the highest disease inhibition at all concentrations, surpassing Topsin-M and Sherit. Notably, the 200 ppm concentration of Carbendazim exhibited a disease incidence of 55.74%, while the 300 ppm and 400 ppm concentrations yielded 56.13% and 56.53%, respectively. Similarly, the effectiveness of various soil amendments (Poultry manure, Rice husk, Sugarcane bagasse) at different concentrations were assessed against the test pathogen under field conditions. Among these amendments, Poultry manure exhibited the highest disease inhibition at all concentrations compared to sugarcane bagasse and rice husk. The 10% concentration of Poultry manure resulted in a disease incidence of 58.21%, whereas the 20% and 30% concentrations yielded 56.87% and 59.54%, respectively.