Fungicidal management of rust, powdery mildew and Ascochyta blight in seed crop of pea

Rust caused by Uromyces vicia fabae is an important disease of peas especially in the seed crop and commonly grown varieties viz. Arkel, MattarAgeta 6, Lincoln, Azad Pea 1 and Palam Priya etc. are highly susceptible. Hence, some commercially available fungicides were evaluated for its management. Three foliar sprays of tebuconazole 250 EFW resulted in the least mean rust disease severity (6.2%) followed by propiconazole 25 EC (23.7%) and hexaconazole 5 EC (26.1%) compared with 52.2% in no spray check. The fungicides were effective in controlling powdery mildew and Ascochyta blight also. The least mean powdery mildew severity (0.05%) was recorded in three sprays of propiconazole followed by tebuconazole 250 EWF (2.2%) and hexaconazole 5EC (26.1%). The least Ascochyta development (disease reaction=3.3) was recorded in foursprays of propiconazole and tebuconazole followed by three sprays of tebuconazole (DR=3.7) and four sprays of hexaconazole (DR=4.0). All the fungicides resulted in statistical higher grain yield compared with unsprayed check (8.0 q/ha). The highest yield was recorded in tebuconazole 250 EWF (15.3q/ha) followed by hexaconazole (12.0q/ha) and propiconazole 25 EC (10.9 q/ha) and mancozeb with cost: benefit ratio of 1:12.2, 1:9.3, 1:882, and 1:3.5 respectively. The corresponding cost: benefit for foundation/certified seed was 1:8.1. 1:6.9, 1:6.4, and 1:2.6, respectively.