In vitro assessment of fungicides against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi causing Fusarium wilt of pea

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is one of the most important legume crops in India. The major states growing pea are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamilnadu and Madhya Pradesh. Various factors responsible for low production and productivity of pea, diseases caused by abiotic and biotic agents, wilt incited by F. oxysporum f. sp. pisi is one of the most important and destructive diseases of pea, inflicting heavy yield losses. In order to identify an effective control measure, seven fungicides viz., Azoxystrobin, Hexaconazole, Thiram, Tebuconazole, Pyraclostrobin, Carbendazim, Mancozebalong with control was evaluated against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi causal agent of wilt of pea. Tebuconazole and Pyraclostrobin were found best fungicides which completely inhibited the radial growth of F. oxysporum f. sp. pisi. Based on damage nature and survival capability of the fungus, the use of chemicals for management of pea wilt was considered to be the only economical and practical solution.