Integrated management of crown rot and powdery mildew diseases affecting red clover (Trifolium pratense L.)

Abstract

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is an important leguminous forage crop of temperate regions throughout the world including India. Red clover suffers serious seed yield losses due to crown rot (caused by Sclerotinia trifoliorum) and powdery mildew (caused by Erysiphe trifoliorum) diseases. Resistant varieties against these two devastating diseases are not available, which necessitates the development of alternate management strategies for these diseases. In order to develop alternate management strategies for these diseases, this study was conducted during 2013–14 to 2017–18 at Palampur (India). Three fungicides (carbendazim, wettable sulphur, hexaconazole) and one biocontrol agent (Trichoderma viride) were tested in different combinations for combined management of these diseases. Results from five year study indicates that seed treatment with carbendazim followed by three foliar sprays of hexaconazole and seed treatment with carbendazim followed by one foliar spray each of T. viride, wettable sulphur and hexaconazole at 10 days interval can effectively control powdery mildew and crown rot diseases, respectively. Applications of these treatments showed significant superiority over others by not only reducing disease severity but also resulted in higher seed yield. Thus, these management strategies can be effectively deployed for simultaneous management of two most serious diseases in red clover.