EVALUATION OF FUNGICIDES AGAINST FUSARIUM FRUIT ROT OF CITRUS

Abstract

various fungicides screened were found superior in inhibiting the mycelial growth of F. pallidoroseum over control in vitro. Carbendazim, carbendazim (12 %) + mancozeb (63 %), thiophanate methyl and propiconazole at both the concentrations completely inhibited the mycelium growth (100 %) over control. The next best treatment in order of merit was Azoxystrobin (18.2 %) + difenoconazole (11.4 %) at 500 (78.80 %) and copper oxychloride at 1000ppm (85.48 %) concentrations, respectively over control.The Fusarium rot severity was significantly lowest in fruits treated with carbendazim at 500 and 1000 ppm concentrations in pre- (9.56 & 4.63 %) and post-inoculations (11.23 & 6.76%) followed by carbendazim (12 %) + mancozeb (63 %)(10.26 & 4.96) and (12.80 & 7.86 %) in pre-and post-inoculation treatments, respectively after 8 days of inoculation. The higher concentration (1000 ppm)of carbendazim found best for reducing the Fusarium rot severity (4.63 %) as compared to lower concentration (500 ppm) (9.56 %) in pre- and post-inoculation (11.23 %) treatments after 8th day of inoculation. Cymoxanil (8 %) + mancozeb (64 %) found least effective in controlling the rot at both the concentrations in pre- (23.73 & 18.76%) and post-inoculation (24.26 & 22.43%) treatments.