FIELD EVALUATION OF FUNGICIDES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF RICE BLAST CAUSED BY Magnaporthe oryzae

Abstract

Rice blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae is the major threat to rice production worldwide. Prochloraz 23.5% + tricyclazole 20% SE, prochloraze 45% EC, tricyclazole 75% WP, azoxystrobin 18.2% w/w + difenconazole 11.4% SC, difenconazole 25% EC, hexaconazole 5% EC and propiconazole 25% EC were evaluated at different concentrations against the rice blast disease under field conditions during 2019-20 at Agricultural Research Station, Nellore. Results revealed that out of seven fungicides prochloraz 23.5 % + tricyclazole 20 % SE @ 2 ml/l was found effective with 64.78 % reduction of the disease and highest grain yield of 6026 kg ha-1 which was at par with prochloraze 45% EC @ 2ml/l with recorded 59.40 % reduction of the disease and 5512 kg ha-1 of grain yield of rice. Remaining test fungicides: tricyclazole 75% wp @ 0.6 g/l, azoxystrobin 18.2% w/w + difenconazole 11.4 % SC @ 1ml/l, difenconazole 25% EC @ 1 ml/l, hexaconazole 5% EC @ 2ml/l and propiconazole 25% EC@1 ml/l managed the disease with 52.35 %, 44.25, 23.89, 24.85 and 20.03% reduction, respectively.