Lustre 37.5 SE - An Effective Combination Product of Flusilazole and Carbendazim Against Sheath Blight of Rice

Sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn continues to pose a serious threat to rice production especially in irrigated rice ecosystem in India. Host plant resistance is inadequate to prevent yield losses from this disease. The pathogen is polyphagous and is highly variable with ability to develop resistance to repeated use of same fungicide. Tests were made in glasshouse under controlled conditions and in rice field to evaluate the efficacy of Lustre 37.5 SE, a new combination product of flusilazole (12.5%) with carbendazim (25%), on sheath blight disease control. As a prophylactic foliar application it gave good protection when compared to the curative application although grain yields remained same. This triazole mix was found significantly superior to a single straight fungicide application of flusilazole or carbendazim. Lustre (37.5 SE) reduced sheath blight disease severity as well as increased the grain yields. Further, it proved to be a safe combination fungicide, as it did not induce any phytotoxic symptoms on rice plants. Lustre (37.5 SE) may be recommended for application immediately after the appearance of sheath blight symptoms and repeated a week later to control the disease and obtain higher yields in rice.