Front Line Demonstrations on Integrated Management of Betelvine Leaf and Foot Rot, Phytophthora capsici

Phytophthora leaf and foot rot (Phytophthora capsici, Leonain) of betelvine is the most serious disease causing considerable yield losses in traditional betelvine growing areas. Integrated disease management (IDM) technology developed by All India Coordinated Research Project on betelvine, Bapatla centre was demonstrated in farmers’ fields from 2003–2004 to 2009–10 in major betelvine growing villages of Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh in comparison with the farmers’ practice. The IDM package consisting of sanitation, application of Bordeaux mixture (1% soil drench) and bioagent @ 5 kg/ha (Trichoderma viride) after its multiplication on neem cake, followed by second application of Bordeaux mixture with a gap of 30-day interval between each application. IDM technology reduced the Phytophthora foot rot incidence (40.8%) and leaf rot index (55.8%) over the farmer's practice, with increased yield of 22.1% with cost benefit ratio of 1: 2.38. The farmers were convinced with the new technology and got benefited by adopting the IDM technology, which extended life of the garden yielding more returns.