MANAGEMENT OF RICE BLAST WITH DIFFERENT FUNGICIDES AND POTASSIUM SILICATE UNDER IN VITRO AND IN VIVO CONDITIONS

Abstract

During 2015 and 2016 cropping season investigations were carried out at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India, with the aim to manage rice blast disease by means of different fungicides and potassium silicate under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Fungicides were tested against spore germination of Pyricularia grisea and their efficacy was determined by calculating ED50 and ED90 values. Tricyclazole (Baan 75WP) and Propiconazole (Tilt 25EC) were found to be most fungitoxic compounds and Mancozeb (Indofil Z-78 75WP) was least fungitoxic. Under in vivo conditions, fungicides and potassium silicate were applied at tillering and boot stage. It was found that the fungicide Tricyclazole (Baan 75WP) at 0.06% was most effective and provided disease control of 67.9% followed by Propiconazole (Tilt 25EC) at 0.1% with 60.3% disease control, Azoxystrobin + Difenoconazole (Amistar Top 325SC) at 0.1% with 55.1% disease control and Trifloxystrobin + Tebuconazole (Nativo 75WP) at 0.04% with 53.3% disease control. Difenoconazole (Score 25EC), Tebuconazole (Folicur 25EC) and Mancozeb (Indofil Z-78 2 75WP) were least effective. The potassium silicate applied at 40 and 50 ml/l was found effective against rice blast and significantly increased the grain yield by reducing the toppling of panicles. Thus, it can provide us with an environmentally safe alternative source to rice blast disease management.