Effectiveness of botanical extracts and essential oils for repressing leaf rust disease severity of wheat caused by Puccinia triticina Eriks under field conditions

Abstract

Leaf rust is a devastating fungal disease of wheat that threatens crop yields. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is a staple crop worldwide and vital in Pakistan, but its productivity is threatened by leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) disease that can cause up to 50% yield loss. This study evaluated the efficacy of various botanical sprays against leaf rust on two wheat cultivars, Morocco (susceptible) and Urooj (resistant), under field conditions. Treatments included neem, garlic, tobacco, clove, castor oil, basil, cinnamon oil, moringa, and henna. All significantly reduced disease severity compared to the untreated control. On Morocco, garlic (9.54%), neem (9.06%), and tobacco (9.06%) were most effective, while basil, castor oil, cinnamon oil, and moringa also provided notable suppression. On Urooj, neem (6.31%), tobacco (5.58%), and garlic (5.47%) showed the highest efficacy, followed by clove (5.45%) and henna (5.31%). Across both cultivars, neem, garlic, and tobacco consistently reduced leaf rust severity, confirming their strong protective bioactivity. These findings highlight the potential of plant-derived sprays as eco-friendly alternatives for integrated management of wheat leaf rust.