Impact of neem oil in controlling powdery mildew (Erysiphe polygoni DC) on green gram (Vigna radiata L.)

Powdery mildew in green gram is attributed to the fungus Erysiphe polygoni DC. This disease poses a significant challenge to crop production, affecting all above-ground parts of the plant. An effective and environmentally friendly approach to managing powdery mildew is the use of neem oil. Various concentrations of neem oil were tested as foliar sprays, including 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5% alongside a treatment of carbendazim @ 0.1% and an untreated control. Results showed that all treatments notably diminished the severity of the disease and enhanced crop yield. Among the tested concentrations, neem oil @ 2.0% proved to be the most effective, significantly outperforming the other treatments in reducing the intensity of powdery mildew of green gram while also promoting plant growth, yield, and cost effectiveness compared to both the carbendazim @ 1% treatment and the untreated control.