author(s)
MG Palakshappa, SG Parameshwarappa, Harshiya Banu and Pooja Holeyannavar

abstract
Sesame crop raised in rainy season is prone to soil moisture stress and vagaries of rainfall due to unpredictable droughts / dry spells i.e. uncertainty of rain water availability, the swings in the onset, continuity and withdrawal pattern of monsoon make crop production more risky in rainfed farming areas. The experiments was laid out to study the severity of foliar diseases of sesame and their effect on yield. The results of the experiments over the seasons indicated that the percent disease index of Cercospora in sesame planted during third week of June was 26.25 and 34.69, second week of July was 25.01 and 31.81 and fourth week of July was 34.06 and 40.97. Whereas, bacterial leaf spot of sesame sown during third week of June was 28.86 and 39.96, second week of July 19.35 and 22.95 and fourth week of July recorded 15.65 and 24.90, powdery mildew of sesame during third week of June was 17.16 and 22.63, second week of July was 24.81 and 34.53 and fourth week of July recorded 18.13 and 25.33 and the incidence of Macrophomina stem and root rot was in the range of 62.90 and 85.20 and 65.36 and 93.25 under protected and unprotected conditions respectively. The average yield of 8.08 q/ha was recorded in protected as compared to 4.42 q/ha under unprotected conditions with an yield loss of 45.29% during first date of sowing. Our findings over the four seasons clearly suggested third week of June is preferable planting date for tolerant reaction for foliar disease of sesame.