Management of Cercospora leaf spot in bottle gourd by integrated means under semi-arid conditions in Rajasthan

Abstract

Bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl] is a commonly grown vegetable crop in India, which is also grown in Ethiopia, Africa, Central America and other warmer regions of the world. It is widely grown on open fields as well as in river beds throughout the year. It is also suitable for cultivation in hot dry areas. The fruits can be used for juice, as a vegetable or for making sweets. As a vegetable, it is easily digestible, even by patients. Cercospora Leaf spot found to cause serious losses in bottle guard crop throughout Rajasthan and other states. Characteristic symptoms are small gray or white irregular spots with black margin; the centers of these leaf spots are light brown. The field trial was conducted during Kharif season of 2015 to 2018 at RARI, Durgapura for the integrated disease management of Cercospora Leaf spot in bottle gourd through different means and combinations among seven treatments. The minimum disease incidence (12.39%) and maximum yield (338.5 q/ha) were observed in treatment T5 (T0+ Seed treatment with carbendazim 12%+ mancozeb 63% @ 3 g/kg and drenching of Captan 70% +Hexaconazole 5% WP @ 0.1% 15 days after germination followed by spraying of Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25% @1g/l + spray with (Imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 7.5 ml/ 15 l + Neem oil 0.2%) followed by Fosetyl-Al @ 0.1% followed by spraying of Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25% @1g/l + spray with (Imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 7.5 ml/ 15 l + Neem oil 0.2%) followed by Fosetyl-Al @ 0.1% at 10 days interval) while maximum disease incidence (37.15%) and minimum yield (225.7 q/ha)were observed in treatment T7 (Control).