Epidemiology and management of Fusarium oxysporum causing leaf rot disease in Aloe vera

Abstract

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) is a perennial, succulent plant belongs to the family Liliaceae. Production of Aloe vera is limited due to various diseases. Among them, leaf rot is one of the major limiting factors in Aloe vera, which decreases leaf, gel quantity and quality significantlyThe field experiments were conducted during 2015-16 at Experimental farm of NDUA&T, Kumarganj, Faizabad (U.P.) The highest disease severity (86.89%) for leaf rot disease was recorded in the month of July at an average temperature of 28.70C and 80.3% relative humidity. Under chemical management of leaf rot in Aloe barbadensis Propiconazole-25EC @0.25% was found most effective with lowest PDI (35.50%) and maximum PDC (57.68%) as compared to Carbendazim-50% WP@ 0.25% and Mancozeb-75% WP @0.25%. Whereas, among botanicals Garlic @ 5% was most effective having PDI (67.93%) and PDC (19.01%) as compared to Tulsi @ 5% with PDI (70.32) and PDC (16.16%) and Neem@ 5% with PDI (73.83%) and PDC (11.98%).Thus, it can be concluded from the present experimentation that Propiconazole 25 EC @ 0.25% is the best treatment to overcome the Leaf rot disease of Aloe vera as a chemical fungicide and among the botanicals Garlic bulb extract @ 5% followed by Tulsi leaf extract at the same concentration revealed lesser disease control as compared to chemical fungicides.