Assessment of disease suppressing ability of some fungicides and Neem oil on for management of Alternaria blight disease linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Abstract

Alternaria lini and Alternaria linicola is known to cause destruction of host tissue through the reduction of photosynthetic potential by inciting spots and blights of the crops including linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Altrnaria blight of Linseed also reduces the oil content and quality of fiber of linseed. The present investigation was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of various fungicides and neem oil for management of this important disease. Three sprays of fungicides namely carbendazim 0.2%, mancozeb @ 0.2%, hexaconazole @ 0.1%, propiconazole @ 0.1%, tubaconazole 0.1%, kresoxin- methyl 0.1% and trichyclazole+mancozeb 0.1% and neem oil was done after the first appearance of the symptoms of Alternaria leaf blight. Minimum disease severity with maximum seed yield was recorded with three sprays of Mancozeb @ 0.2% followed by Propiconazole @ 0.1% and Hexaconazole @ 0.1%, respectively. Maximum seed yield (1443.75 kg./ha) was obtained with the spraying of Mancozeb @ 0.2% followed by Hexaconazole @ 0.1%. Good control was also obtained by the spray of carbendazim @ 0.2%, propiconazole @ 0.1% and hexaconazole @ 0.1%. Neem oil and @ 2% was found good for control of Altenaria blight pathogens and these could be used as substitute of chemical fungicides for ecofriendly management of Alternaria leaf spot.