Search for new fungicides against Stem rot of jute (Corchorus olitorius L. and C.capsularis L.) caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi)

Abstract

Search for new fungicides for management of Stem rot of jute (Corchorus olitorius L. and C. capsularis L.), caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, revealed that pre-sowing seed treatment followed by foliar spraying of tebuconazole one month after sowing resulted in lowest Stem rot incidence of 25 % and it was statistically at par with carbendazim (28.5%) and hexaconazole (28.6%) compared to 45.2 % in check. These were best fungicides against jute stem rot pathogen as also observed in in vitro tests. These were followed by tricyclazole, copper oxychloride and mancozeb, respectively, with 33.4, 33.5 and 35.9 % of Stem rot incidence. Among the fungicides tested, thiophanate methyl was least effective against Stem rot of jute with 38.7 % disease. The progress of stem rot was slowest in tebuconazole and carbendazim in all the dates of crop growth from 30 to 90 days after sowing. Chemicals and fungicides causing complete inhibition of M. phaseolina under in vitro tests were propiconazole 25% EC (10 g/ ml), turmeric oil (10 g/ml), carbendazim 50 WP (25 g/ml), copper oxychloride 50 WP (50 g/ ml), tebuconazole 25.9% EC (50 g/ml), hexaconazole 5% EC (100 g/ml), curcumin mixture (100 g/ml) and tricyclazole 75% WP (10000 g/ml).