CHEMICAL CONTROL OF COLLAR ROT DISEASE OF CHICKPEA

Abstract

Collar rot caused by a fungus Sclerotium rolfsii, is a serious soil-borne disease of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.).  Present study was carried out to manage this disease by commercial fungicides under in vitro and in vivo conditions. In vitro bioassays were carried out using four fungicides namely Tegula (tebuconazole), Thiophanate Methyl, Ridomil Gold (metalaxyl + mancozeb) and Mancozeb at 50, 100, …, 250 ppm concentrations. All the concentrations of these fungicides significantly decreased radial growth of S. rolfsii over control. In vivo bioassays were carried out in plastic pots of 15-cm diameter and 20 cm deep with 1 kg soil in each pot. Treatments included a negative control, a positive control (with pathogen only), and two chemical fungicides viz. Thiophanate methyl and Mancozeb. There was 95% and 50% reduction in plant mortality due to Thiophanate methyl and Mancozeb over positive control, respectively, after 30 days of sowing.