<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Cluster bean crop is affected by various biotic and abiotic stresses which are responsible for its poor quality and low yield resulting in severe economic losses. Among the foliar diseases, powdery mildew caused by Leveillula taurica is an important disease causing the yield losses ranging from 50-55 per cent. So, there is a need to formulate suitable management practices against powdery mildew. 
 
Methods: Field experiment was laid-out in a randomized complete block design with three replications at Main Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad to determine the efficacy of economically viable and effective fungicides, botanical and bioagent against powdery mildew of cluster bean. Observation on intensity of disease was recorded using 0-9 scale. The per cent disease index and yield per hectare were taken into consideration for statistical analysis.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Among the thirteen combinations, two sprays of hexaconazole @ 0.1 per cent was found to be statistically significant in reducing the disease severity (11.75%) and enhancing pod yield (138.46%) upto 6.20 t ha-1 with C: B ratio of 1:3.23. The combined application of nimbecidine and Bacillus subtilis also showed significant impact on disease reduction as well as on yield of cluster bean. Relatively, the chemical, hexaconazole gave a higher benefit with minimum production cost and this approach is proposed to the cluster bean growing farmers to mitigate the powdery mildew.</div>

Management of Powdery Mildew in Cluster Bean using Fungicides, Botanicals and Bioagents

<div>Background: Leaf blight caused by Exserohilum turcicum (E. turcicum) is commonly or generally found on sorghum grown in the sub-tropics and tropical lowlands during summer. The pathogen is easily wind disseminated and apparently most consistent in their occurrence and severity across the diverse sorghum growing environments. The sweet sorghum variety SSV 74 was released by University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad for kharif season mainly for fodder purpose. This variety is also good for ethanol production and jaggery making. However, for the last several years this variety was showing its susceptibility to the leaf blight caused by E. turcicum and causes heavy losses both in fodder and its quality. Even though there are reports of the presence of leaf blight caused by E. turcicum on the grain sorghum, no precise information is available on the presence of the leaf blight on sweet sorghum in India as well as in the world and no information is available about the magnitude of losses caused by this disease. Hence, the experiment was conducted to assess the losses caused by the E. turcicum. 
 
Methods: An experiment on loss assessment in sweet sorghum due to leaf blight caused by E. turcicum was carried out at Main Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, during kharif 2017 using randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and seven treatments. Six treatments were imposed with hexaconazole at 0.1% besides a treatment with unsprayed control. 
 
Result: Lowest per cent disease index (PDI) (24.76%) as well as area under disease progressive curve (789.61) was observed in treatment involving six sprays of hexaconazole at 0.1% followed by five sprays, (PDI: 27.51%, AUDPC: 815.32) and four sprays T4 (PDI: 32.57%, AUDPC: 908.80). Highest fodder yield (46.47 t/ha), brix value (12.47%), crude fibre content (28.22%), leaf ash content (23.08%) and crude protein content (5.29%) was observed in treatment with six sprays of hexaconazole at 0.1%. With respect to the per cent increase over control, 17.47-37.20 per cent increase in fodder yield, 7.4-21.17 per cent in brix value, 11.64-9.66 per cent in crude fibre content, 12.74-62.91 per cent in leaf ash content and 4.36-13.00 per cent in crude protein content was observed at one spray to six sprays with hexaconazole at 0.1 per cent, respectively.</div>

Assessment of Losses in Sweet Sorghum Genotype (SSV 74) due to Leaf Blight caused by Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.) Leonard and Suggs

Web blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani causes huge yield loses in urdbean (Vigna mungo). All the commercially grown varieties are susceptible. Hence, more than ten fungicides were evaluated as foliar sprays during kharif season 2005, 2007-2010 using susceptible variety UL 338. &nbsp;Two foliar sprays of fungicides, namely; hexaconazole 5EC (Contaf 5EC)@ 0.1%, difenconazole 25EC (Score 25EC) @ 0.05%, carbendazim 50WP (Bavastin 50WP) @ 0.1% and propiconazole 25EC &nbsp;(Tilt 25EC) @ 0.1% &nbsp;significantly reduced the disease severity resulting in &nbsp;81.1, 80.6, 65.9 and 76.2% control over unsprayed &nbsp;check with corresponding mean yield of &nbsp;872, 821, 791 and 754 kg/ha compared with the mean yield of 584 kg /ha in unsprayed control . The net benefit for the two foliar sprays of &nbsp;hexaconazole 5EC, difenconazole 25EC, &nbsp;propiconazole 25EC and carbendazim 50WP and chlorthalonil 50WP, has been worked out to be Rs.10229, 6891, 6375, 4524 and 3274, respectively for the crop grown for the grain purpose (@Rs. 4300/q) &nbsp;with the cost: benefit ratio of 5.8, 3.1, 2.6, 4.0 and 1.8, respectively. In the crop, grown for the breeder seed purpose (Rs.12000/q), the net profit for foliar sprays of hexaconazole 5EC, difenconazole 25EC, propiconazole 25EC, carbendazim 50WP and chlorthanonil was worked out to be Rs.32405, 25140, 17616, 22614 and 16980 respectively with cost: benefit ratio of 16.0, 8.6, 7.3, 11.2 and 4.9, respectively. &nbsp;The same trend was observed for foundation and certified seed also. The fungicides were effective in reducing the severity of powdery mildew also.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Fungicidal management of web blight of urdbean caused by Rhizoctonia solani 
&nbsp;

<div>Background: Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a worldwide cultivated crop and is attacked by a complex of foliar diseases. Alternaria leaf spot has become quite a problem as it results in poor quality and low yield.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The experiment was conducted during 2021-22 with a total of four fungicides viz Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% WP, Hexaconazole 5% SC, Azoxystrobin 18.2% + Difenoconazole 12.5% W/V, Copper oxychloride 50% and three bio-control agents viz. Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma asperellum, Trichoderma harzianum to evaluate their effectiveness against Alternaria leaf spot of spinach. Fungicides were evaluated at four concentrations viz 25, 50, 75 and 100 ppm for their efficacy.&nbsp; 
 
Result: All the tested chemicals and bioagents were effective to reduce the disease severity, but hexaconazole at 100 ppm was the most effective in controlling the radial growth (82.55% inhibition) followed by Azoxystrobin (79.97%). The study established the efficacy of fungicides and bio-agents against Alternaria leaf spot of spinach caused by Alternaria alternata. The levels of inhibition revealed the potential to manage pathogen and can be used for better yield and good quality product thereby minimizing risks of crop failures.</div>

Evaluation of Biocontrol Agents and Fungicides against Alternaria Leaf Spot of Spinach

Background: Anthracnose is currently a severe threat to green gram cultivation in India. In vitro bioassay and glasshouse studies were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of different fungicides against Collectotrichum lindemuthianum. 
 
Methods: The current investigation was conducted at the Department of Plant Pathology, N.M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat in 2020-21. The poison food technique assessed the efficacy of systemic, non-systemic and combination fungicides against C. lindemuthianum. The management study was also carried out from the best-performing bioassay treatments and evaluated in the glasshouse. 
 
Result: At 500 ppm, carbendazim 50 WP and propiconazole 25 EC inhibited 100% of mycelial growth out of six systemic fungicides tested while in non-systemic fungicides, mancozeb 75 WP and chlorothalonil 75 WP inhibited the test pathogen the most at 2500 ppm. Among the combi-fungicides tested at 500 ppm, carbendazim (12%) + mancozeb (63%) 75 WP and captan 70% + hexaconazole 5% 75 WP inhibited pathogen mycelial growth the most significantly more than the untreated control. In glasshouse studies, the lowest disease index was found in two foliar sprays of carbendazim 50 WP @ 1.0 g/l, propiconazole 25 EC @ 2.0 ml/l and captan 70% + hexaconazole 5% @ 0.6 g/l spaced 15 days apart. On the other hand, seed treatment of carbendazim 12% + mancozeb 63% @ 3.0 g/kg seed and mancozeb 75 WP @ 3.0 g/kg seed had the lowest disease index compared to control.

Effectiveness of Fungicides against Colletotrichum lindemuthianum Causing Anthracnose of Green Gram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]

<div>Background: Cercospora leaf spot of mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.)] caused by Cercospora canescens. It has become a severe menace to the growers of Rajasthan in India and in general causes economic losses under changing climatic scenario. Depending upon the temperature and humidity, it spreads rapidly in susceptible varieties causing premature defoliation and reduction in size of pods and grains. In this study management was taken through botanicals and fungicides is also an important segment in the present era, in view of hazards caused by toxic chemicals or being developed resistance in pathogens to fungicides and effective means for disease control. 
 
Methods: In this field-laboratory investigation during kharif 2018 and kharif 2019 at Agronomy Farm, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, Jaipur, Rajasthan. The experiment was conducted for seven plant extracts at 5, 10 and 15 per cent concentrations were evaluated in vitro by poisoned food technique. In field experiments, further these fungicides applied as different concentrations viz., 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% and plant extracts (at 10% conc.) were assessed by two foliar applications to control the disease. 
 
Result: Experiment was carried out in laboratory and field condition. In Plant extracts, the 100 per cent inhibition of mycelial growth was obtained with garlic extract at 10% concentration. In field conditions, two foliar applications of Hexaconazole (0.1%) were proved the most effective in reducing disease intensity (55.58%) and in increasing crop yield (56.50%) followed by Hexaconazole + Captan. In plant extracts, garlic extract (10%) proved superior in reducing disease intensity (52.85%) and in increasing crop yield (33.96%) followed by neem leaf extract.</div>

Management Strategies using Phytoextracts and Fungicides Against Cercospora Leaf Spot of Mungbean Incited by Cercospora canescens under in vitro and in vivo Conditions

<div>Background: Early leaf spot caused by Cercospora arachidicola Hori. is most destructive disease in all the groundnut growing areas of Rajasthan, under severe infestation it cause 30-50% losses in pod yield. Recently, Central Insecticide Board (CIB), Faridabade banned 27 pesticides including some important fungicides which are extensively used in plant disease management. Therefore, in the present investigation, our main emphasis was to find out some new fungicides for management of early leaf spot disease. 
 
Methods: Ten fungicides (hexaconazole 5% EC, difenconazole 25% EC, propiconazole 25% EC, tebuconazole 25.9% EC, trifloxystrobin 25% + tebuconazole 50% WG, mancozeb 50% WP, chlorothalonil 75% WP, carbendazim 50% WP, carbendazim 12% + mancozeb 63% WP and captan 70% + hexaconazole 5% WP) were evaluated against early leaf spot pathogen (C. arachidicola) both in lab as well as in field condition. The experiment was conducted at ARS, SKRAU, Bikaner during Kharif-2019 on most popular cv. HNG-69 in RBD design with the application of foliar spray of ten different fungicides at different concentrations against early leaf spot disease and compared with an untreated control. 
 
Result: Among all the fungicides used in the present investigation, Tebuconazole 25.9% EC was found most effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth of the pathogen followed by trifloxystrobin 25% + tebuconazole 50% WG. Under field condition, it gave maximum (70.73%) disease control with highest pod yield (31.5 q/ha) and net return (Rs 57,500/ha) when applied as foliar spray at 0.1% concentration followed by trifloxystrobin 25% + tebuconazole 50% WG at 0.2%. These treatments can provide an effective and economical management of early leaf spot disease for groundnut cultivators.</div>

​Management of Early Leaf Spot (Cercospora arachidicola) of Groundnut in Rajasthan

Background: The chickpea, scientifically known as Cicer arietinum L., is a significant legume crop that serves as a valuable source of vegetable protein. The chickpea crop is susceptible to various pests and illnesses. Collar rot, induced by the fungal pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii, is a highly significant and extremely damaging disease that affects chickpea crops. The disease causes seedling mortality ranging from 54.7 to 95 per cent and field conditions result in yield decrease ranging from 22 to 50 per cent. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of using a combination of fungicides, bio-agents and organic amendments for the management of collar rot in chickpea. 
 
Methods: The investigations were conducted in the Rabi seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21. The experiments involved the integration of fungicides, fungal biocontrol agents (Trichoderma spp.), FYM and Vermicompost to control Collar rot disease in Chickpea caused by S. rolfsii. Six indigenous fungal antagonists (Trichoderma spp.) were assessed in a laboratory setting against S. rolfsii using both dual culture and non-volatile (culture filtrate) methods. The efficacy of the fungicides was assessed using the poison food technique. Nine fungicides were assessed in a laboratory setting to determine their effectiveness against a pathogen and Trichoderma harzianum-2. The fungicides were tested at four different concentrations: 50, 100, 500 and 1000 ppm. The goal was to identify fungicides that are extremely toxic to S. rolfsii at lower concentrations, while being less harmful to the bioagent Trichoderma spp. Pot culture studies were conducted using a completely randomised design (CRD), while field experiments were conducted using a randomised block design (RBD). 
 
Result: Trichoderma harzianum-2 (TH-2) was found to be highly efficient against the pathogen. It reduced the growth of the pathogen by 75.18% in the dual culture technique and by 61.85% in the culture filtrate approach. Among the nine fungicides tested, four of them, specifically propineb, mancozeb, captan 70% + hexaconazole 5% WP and penflufen 13.28% w/w + trifloxystrobin, showed lower inhibitory effects on Trichoderma harzianum at doses ranging from 50 to 1000 ppm. The treatment that resulted in the highest seed germination rate (100%) and the lowest occurrence of collar rot was the one where the seeds were treated with captan 70% + hexaconazole 5% WP and the soil was supplemented with Trichoderma harzianum through vermicompost application.

Combined Application of Bio-agents and Novel Fungicides for Management of Collar Rot of Chickpea&nbsp;

<div>Background: Root rot disease of fenugreek caused by Rhizoctonia solani has become a severe menace to the growers of Rajasthan as well as India. This pathogen survives in soil, causes damping off and root rot symptoms and responsible nearly for 50 per cent disease incidence and yield losses.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: During 2016-17 to 2017-18 cropping seasons, this study was carried out with the aim to manage the disease by means of using six fungicides including newer formulations (hexaconazole and tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin) under in vitro and field conditions.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The result of in vitro study with tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin was found to be most fungitoxic and inhibited mycelial growth cent per cent at 200 and 500 ppm concentrations. Seed treatment with tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin (@ 0.2%) was found highly effective in reducing disease incidence (83.12%) and in increasing seed yield (84.71%) under field conditions. Thus, it can be concluded that the use of newer combined formulation as seed treatment before sowing provide us alternative source to manage root rot disease of fenugreek.</div>

<div>Management of Root Rot (Rhizoctonia solani) of Fenugreek through Newer Combined Formulations of Fungicides</div>

<div>Background: Bottle gourd is a cucurbitaceous vegetable of culinary and medicinal importance cultivated in various tropical and sub-tropical regions of world. This crop is exposed to a wide variety of seed and soil mycoflora, out of which Fusarium proliferatum is utmost important as far as seed germination, viability and seedling vigour are concerned. 
 
Methods: Study was taken up to evaluate different fungicides and bioagents for their efficacy against the fungus Fusarium proliferatum under in vitro through spore germination inhibition technique. 
 
Result: Spore germination inhibition of 86.00%, 85.00% and 81.33% was recorded with hexaconazole (5% SC) @ 0.2% (C3), mancozeb (75% WP) @ 0.3% (C3) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (1% WP) @ 2% (C3), respectively. The inhibition in spore germination by mancozeb (75% WP) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (1% WP) was upto 77.33% and it was 61.78% and 67.33% in treatments involving carbendazim (50% WP) and Trichoderma harzianum (1% WP) that could be exploited to devise integrated approach for disease management.</div>

Evaluation of Fungicides and Bioagents against Fusarium proliferatum under In vitro by Spore Germination Inhibition Technique