Integrated management of French bean rust (Uromyces appendiculatus)

French bean rust (Uromyces appendiculatus) has been observed as one of the most destructive disease causing economic losses to the growers. In the present study, the effect of plant spacing, foliar application of bio-pesticides, recommended fungicide Amistar (azoxystrobin) alone and in integrated manner were evaluated to see their effect on disease severity and green pod yield. Plant spacing i.e 45 x 15 cm was found better with moderate disease severity (64.03%), AUDPC value (1255.37),minimum infection rate (0.135 units day⁻¹) and highest pod yield (53.7 q/acre) followed by 30 x 7.5 cm and were statistically at par with each other and superior to other plant spacings.. Out of eight botanicals evaluated under in vitro conditions, Neemazal caused 100 - per cent germination inhibition and was found significantly superior to others followed by water extracts of Allium sativum, Lantana camara, Roylea elegans and Urtica dioca with 74.75, 71.65, 70.02 and 69.98 per cent inhibition in urediniospore germination, respectively, and also inhibited germtube elongation. Combined treatment of plant spacing (45×15 cm) (Tj) + azoxystrobin (Amistar 23%EC) spray (0.1%) (T₂) was found most effective in reducing disease severity (4.39%), AUDPC (97.56) and infection rate (0.046 units day⁻¹) and provided maximum green pod yield (94.6 q/acre) as well.