Efficacy of fungicides seed treatment in improving seed quality and health in Paddy (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

The research work was carried out on paddy variety PB1509 in Department of Seed Science and Technology, CCS HAU Hisar during 2021 to assess the efficacy of various fungicides in improving seed quality and seed health. The results revealed that maximum germination (91.11%) was recorded in the seeds treated with Pyraclostrobin 10% CS followed by the seeds treated with Picoxystrobin 6.78% +Tricylcazole 20.33% SC (90.67%) with single dose. With double dose, maximum and significantly high germination was recorded in seeds treated with Picoxystrobin 6.78%+Tricylcazole 20.33% SC treated seeds (88.33%) followed by the seeds treated with Azoxystrobin18.2% + Difenoconazole 11.4% SC (88.17%) in comparison to control seeds (84.67%). In single dose, poor vigour index-I (1749) was observed in Picoxystrobin 12%+Propiconazole 7% SC treated paddy seeds followed by Propiconazole 13.9%+ Difenconazole 13.9% EC (1789) treated seeds in comparison to control (2254). In double dose, detrimental effect on vigour index-I was recorded in majority of fungicidal treatments in comparison to control (2254). Maximum infection (25.00%) was observed in untreated seeds while no infection was recorded in the seeds treated with double dose of amistar top, nativo, galileo sensa and systiva. The seed infection reduced significantly after two weeks in both single and double dose. Double dose significantly reduced the infection from 9.05 to 5.95%. The fungus found on rotten and ungerminated paddy seeds could not be identified. The frequency of unidentified fungus was maximum (0.23) in control (untreated seeds) followed by cabrio top (0.11) and minimum (0.03) was found in nativo, galileo sensa and systiva treated seeds. Doubling the dose reduces the frequency of infection significantly from 0.09 to 0.07. It is concluded from the study that seed treatment with Pyraclostrobin 10% CS or Picoxystrobin 6.78%+Tricylcazole 20.33% SC with single dose is beneficial for seed quality enhancement while seed treatment with Trifloxystrobin 25%+Tebuconazole 50% WG (native) or Picoxystrobin 6.78%+Tricylcazole 20.33% SC (galileo sense) or Fluxapyroxad 33.3% FS (systiva) are beneficial for controlling the seed borne fungi which is considered as effective disease management strategy.