Chemical management of Cercospora leaf spot disease of bhendi

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of eight different fungicides in controlling the Cercospora leaf spot disease of bhendi for three seasons (Kharif 2014, 2015 and 2016). Out of eight fungicides tested, propiconazole 25 EC (0.1%) was found significantly superior in controlling the disease. Three years pooled data analysis revealed that, per cent disease index (PDI) was significantly less (11.62 PDI) in propiconazole 25 EC sprayed plot followed by carbandizim 12% + mancozeb 63% WP (16.30 PDI) and cymoxanil 8% + mancozeb 63% WP (18.72 PDI) compared to other fungicides and unsprayed control plot (85.65 PDI). Correspondingly, a maximum fruit yield of 18.22 t/ha was recorded in plot in which propiconazole 25 EC was sprayed followed by carbendazim 12% + mancozeb 63% WP (17.27 t/ha) and cymoxanil 8% + mancozeb 63% WP (16.39 t/ha). Whereas, in unsprayed control plot, a minimum fruit yield of 10.74 t/ha was recorded. The B:C ratio was also found higher in propiconazole 25EC (1:3.54), carbendazim 12% + mancozeb 63% (1:3.10) and cymoxinil 8% + mancozeb 63% WP (1:2.63) sprayed plots compared to other fungicides and untreated control plots over three seasons. From the present findings, it can be concluded that propiconazole 25 EC (0.1%) is very effective fungicide for lowering Cercospora leaf spot severity under field conditions and there is no toxicity to the environment.