Efficacy of fungicides and botanicals against Colletotrichum lagenarium (pass.) Ellis & Halsted causing anthracnose of bottle gourd

Abstract

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) is one of the most important cucurbitaceous vegetable crop grown extensively throughout the world. The anthracnose of bottle gourd caused by Colletotrichum lagenarium (Pass.) Ellis & Halsted causes extensive damage rendering its cultivation difficult, required effective management. Therefore, the present investigation was carried out to evaluate fungicides and botanicals for eco-friendly management of the disease. The experiment was carried out through standard procedure of poison food technique under laboratory conditions and through foliar spray under screen house conditions. Seven fungicides and six botanicals were evaluated under laboratory conditions against pathogen. The results reported that, carbendazim and propiconazole completely inhibited mycelial growth up to 100 per cent at all the three concentrations. Copper oxychloride was found least effective among all seven fungicides. Among the botanicals evaluated neem leaf extract was found most effective in inhibition of fungal growth up to 75.56 and 69.72 per cent at 20 and 10 per cent concentrations (w/v), respectively. Garlic leaves extract at 20 per cent concentration (w/v) inhibited mycelial growth up to 67.50 percent. The best performing two fungicides and two botanicals when tested on two bottle gourd varieties viz., Pusa summer prolific long and Pusa naveen under screen house conditions, significantly controlled disease when sprayed on 45 and 60 days old vines of Pusa summer prolific long (PSPL) and Pusa naveen varieties of bottle gourd.