1Department of Plant Protection, ASPEE College of Horticulture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari-396 450, Gujarat, India
2Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, ASPEE College of Horticulture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari-396 450, Gujarat, India
*Corresponding author email : virpathologist@nau.in
Marigold is a significant commercial flower crop cultivated extensively in India, including Gujarat. Despite the expanding cultivation area, there is a concerning decline in the overall yield of both flowers and seeds. In the South Gujarat region, significant damage has been observed due to the foliar pathogen Alternaria tenuissima, which is responsible for leaf spot and flower blight. Over a three-years period, it was determined that three foliar sprays of either hexaconazole 4 + zineb 68 WP at 0.072 per cent concentration (1g/lit. of water), Mancozeb 75WP at 0.225 per cent concentration (3g/lit.), or tebuconazole 50 + trifloxystrobin 25WG at 0.03 per cent concentration (0.4g/lit.) were effective in controlling leaf and flower blight disease in marigold. These treatments, applied initially at the onset of the disease followed by two additional sprays at 15-day intervals, also positively impacted flower yield. The treatment of hexaconazole 4 + zineb 68 WP registered the highest ICBR, 1:4.73 followed by mancozeb 75WP registered ICBR, 1:4.32 while tebuconazole 50 + trifloxystrobin 25WG registeredICBR, 1:3.87. So they are recommended for leaf and flower blight management. These treatments have no phyto-toxic effect on plants as well as flowers.
Alternaria tenuissima, Fungicides, Marigold, Disease management
