Fungicidal management of yellow rust of wheat

Abstract

Eleven fungicides were evaluated as two foliar sprays for the management of yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis) at CSKHPKV, RWRC, Malan. Seven fungicides were tested during both the cropping seasons whereas, two each were evaluated during 2015-16 and 2016-17. Tebuconazole 25 EC @ 0.1% was the most effective with mean disease severity (MDS) of 1.84 % and mean disease control (MDC) of 99.64% over the unsprayed check (48.39%) followed by Nativo 75WG@0.05%, Amistar 250 SC, Propiconazole and Amistar Top 325 SC @ 0.1%. The highest mean grain yield of 32.24 q/ha was recorded in two sprays of Azoxystrobin 20%+Difenconazole 12.5% SC @0.1% with mean increase in yield of 56.73% over check with corresponding net profit of Rs. 14815 and cost: benefit ratio of 1: 2.93. It was followed by 32.10, 31.47, 31.18 and 29.65 q/ha yield in Tebuconazole 25% EC, Azoxystrobin 23.1%SC, Tebuconazole 50%+ Trifloxystrobin 25% w/w 75WG and Propiconazole 25%EC, with mean yield increase of 11.54, 10.91, 10.62 and 9.08 q/ha with 56.08, 53.01, 51.60 and 44.14 % over the unsprayed check with net profit of Rs. 16705, 13187, 13384 and 13479 and with corresponding cost: benefit ratio of 1: 4.03, 1:2.68, 1:2.89 and 1:4.36, respectively. On the basis of one year data, the highest grain yield of 37.08 and 32.24 q/ha was recorded in Score 250 EC and Opera @0.1% with 64.80 and 72.96% increase in yield over check with cost: benefit ratio of 1: 3.53 and 5.38 respectively. Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) implied that effect of years on disease severity was non-significant, all the test fungicides resulted in significant reduction in disease severity and treatments Tebuconazole 25% EC, Tebuconazole 50%+ Trifloxystrobin 25% w/w 75WG, Azoxystrobin 20%+Difenconazole 12.5% SC and Azoxystrobin 23.1%SC showed significantly more yield than the other fungicides. These fungicides may be used against this disease as a short-term alternative of resistant varieties. Doi.org.10.25174/2582-2675/2020/100849