Evaluation of Fungicides for Effective Management of Leaf and Fruit Spot (<i>Pseudocercospora angolensis</i>) Disease of Citrus under Field Conditions

Abstract

Leaf and fruit spot (Pseudocercospora angolensis) disease of citrus attacks leaves, fruits, and young twigs of the plant. The disease can cause a yield loss of (50% to 100%) in areas with high rainfall and humidity during the active growth stages of the crop. Currently, citrus plantations in the south, south-west and north-west of Ethiopia are seriously affected by this disease. As a result, this study was proposed to study the effect of fungicides in controlling. And candidate fungicides were: Carbonchlor 50% SC only, Benline 50% WP only, Bellis 38% WG only, Carbonchlor 50% SC combined with Bellis 38% WG, Benline 50% WP combined with Carbonchlor 50% SC and Benline 50% WP combined with Matco 72% WP for effective management of citrus leaf and fruit spot (Pseudocercospra angolensis) disease. The study was carried out in 2021 cropping season. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications was the design applied. The result showed that the highest level of efficacy (90.46%) was produced by Bellis 38% WG fungicide followed by Carbonchlor 50% SC (86.50%), Bellis 38% WG + Carbonchlor 50% SC (82.00%), Carbonchlor 50% SC + Benline 50% WP (67.89%), Benline 50% WP (65.62%) and Matco 72% WP + Benline 50% WP (49.48%). Therefore, based on the outcome of the study application of Bellis 38% WG only followed by Carbonchlor 50% SC only, Carbonchlor 50% SC combined with Benline 50% WP, Bellis 38% WG combined with Carbonchlor 50% SC, Bellis 38% WG only, Benline 50% WP only and Matco 72% WP combined with Benline 50% WP were effective fungicides to be used for the control of leaf and fruit spot disease.