Efficacy of different fungicides for management of early blight disease of potato

Abstract

The early blight of potato may be controlled by using bio-control agents and plant extracts but not effectively and rapidly. But using of chemical fungicides the disease can be controlled easily and losses of yield will be reduced compare to above mentioned both control measures. Keeping this in mind an experiment was conducted to test the efficacy of seven different fungicides (difenoconazole, propiconazole, hexaconazole, propineb 61% + iprov-alicarb 5.25%, propineb, carbendazim and metalaxyl 8% + mancozeb 64%) for controlling early blight of potato un-der in vivo as well as in vitro condition. These antifungal compounds were applied 3 times at 7days interval after first appearance of the disease in the field. Highest percent disease reduction (57.88%) and highest yield of tuber (27.03 t/ha) was recorded in plot sprayed with propiconazole @1 ml/lit followed by propineb and propineb 61% + iprovalicarb 5.25%, with percent disease reduction 55.98%, 51.90% and yield 26.30 t/ha and 24.53 t/ha respectively. Simultaneously in vitro efficacy of these fungicides were also tested against Alternaria solani where propiconazole and propineb exhibited highest percent inhibition(100%) in radial growth and in case of spore germination inhibition in spite of these two fungicides difenoconazole, hexaconazole and propineb 61% + iprovalicarb 5.25% exhibit same result i.e. 100% inhibition compared to control as well as other treatments. Therefore it may be suggested that propiconazole and propineb can be used successfully in controlling of this disease.