Vol. 9, Issue 5, Part I (2025)

Temperature and CO₂ level of the atmosphere are rising hence a study was carried out at college of agriculture, RVSKVV, Gwalior (M.P.) during 2023 to access the impact of elevated level of CO₂ and temperature on the severity of pearl millet blast. Results revealed a significant increase in Percent disease index (PDI) of pearl millet blast with hike CO₂ and temperature levels. The highest PDI at 30 DAS (30.6%) was observed in 550 ppm CO₂, followed by 25.7% and 21.5% in 500 and 450 ppm respectively. Similarly, temperature elevation led to increased disease severity, with PDI values of 22.2%, 27.0%, and 28.9% under ambient + 1 °C, + 1.5 °C, and + 2 °C, respectively, compared to 20.2% under ambient and 15.2% under open field conditions. The findings suggest that both elevated CO₂ and higher temperatures significantly enhance the severity of Pearl millet blast, indicating a potential threat to pearl millet production under future climatic change scenarios. These results emphasize the need for climate-resilient crop hybrids/varieties and adaptive disease management strategies to safeguard food security.