Chemical control of Alternaria blight of Safflower in Northern Karnataka

 S.G. RAJU, S. Kulkarni, C.P. MALLAPUR AND V. RUDRA NAIK

 Abstract

An experiment on the control of Alternaria blight of safflower (carthamus tinctorius L.) caused by Alternaria carthami Chowdhury was carried out for 4 consecutive years from 1995-96 to 1998-99 at

Agricultural Research Station, Annigeri, Of the five fungicides evaluated against the disease, carbendazim (0.1%) was found quite effective in controlling disease (37.9% disease index) followed by the combination of carbendazim (o.1%) + mancozeb (0.2%).  However, the disease pressure was quite high in case of untreated check (65.1%).  The treatmental efficacy was reflected in the seed yield.  The highest yield (505g/5 plants) was recorded with the carbendazim treatment compared to 302g/5 plants in the untreated checks.  The next most effective treatments in disease control were carbendazim + mancozeb (486g/5plants), Rovaral (465g/5plant) and mancozeb (436g/5plants).  The other fungicides viz., thriophonate methyl, copper oxychloride, chlorothalonil did not give satisfactory results.

Key words:  Alternaria blight, chemical control