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Cymbopogon citratus is severely infected by a rust disease caused by Puccinia nakanishikii L. which is often responsible for drying of the leaves. The present study was undertaken to investigate the potential efficacy of various botanicals for the control of the disease. Crude acetone extract of Lantana camara L., Milletia ferruginea L., Eucalyptus globules L., Maesa lanceolata L, Ruta chalapensis L., Vernonia amygdalina L., Datura stramonium L., and Artemisia annua A. were investigated in greenhouse and field conditions. Plants sprayed with Impuls EC were used as standard check and untreated plants as control for both in vivo and field experiments. The experiment was arranged in completely randomized design and randomized complete block design for in vivo and field experiments respectively. Spore suspension of the pathogen containing 10-6 spores/ml was sprayed on two-month-old lemon grass seedlings. The filtered extract of each plant was sprayed separately on infected plants in the greenhouse as different treatment. For field experiment, botanicals were sprayed on well established plants before disease occurrence and continued at 15 day interval for four rounds. Data was recorded on fresh leaf yield (kg/ha), dry leaf yield (kg/ha), fresh stem wt (kg/plot), essential oil content, essential oil yield, disease severity and disease control. D. stramonium, V. amygdalina and A. annua were effective botanicals against P. nakanishikii both in the green house field experiments.

Key words: Cymbopogon citrates, botanical extracts, rust disease control, essential oil yield.

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Citation: Mekonnen M, Mengesha B, Manhile B (2014). Screening of botanical extracts for the control of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf) rust (Puccinia nakanishikii L.) in green house and field condition. J. Agric. Crop Res. 2(10): 197-201.