Epidemiology and efficacy of novel fungicides for management of white rust disease in mustard (Brassica juncea)

Abstract

Mustard (Brassica juncea) is an important oilseed crop in India, but its production is significantly impacted by white rust disease, caused by Albugo candida. This study investigates the epidemiology of this disease and evaluates the effectiveness of fungicides for its management. Environmental factors such as temperature (14.93 °C-30.63 °C) and relative humidity (>65%) were found to favor disease development. In a field trial, the fungicide combination Metalaxyl 8% + Mancozeb 64% WP (0.2%) reduced disease severity by 16.84 percent and increased seed yield by 35.4 percent. These results highlight the potential of integrating epidemiological data with targeted fungicide application for effective white rust disease management in mustard.