Antifungal effect of some essential oils and seed dressing fungicides against Fusarium sambucinum causing dry rot of potato

An experiment was conducted for the efficacy of essential oil obtained from leaves of Cymbopogon citratus and Citrus limon at 250, 500, 750, 1000 ppm and two fungicides viz. carbendazim 50%WP and azoxystrobin SC 23% at 50, 150, 250 ppm against Fusarium sambucinum in vitro. 100% inhibition of mycelial growth of pathogen was recorded in Cymbopogon citratus and Citrus limon at 1000 ppm after 144 hours incubation. While in case of fungicide 100 per cent inhibition was observed in carbendazim at 50, 150, 250 ppm followed by 87.27 per cent inhibition was recorded in azoxystrobin at 250 ppm. A combination of practices such as tuber treatments with essential oils, fungicides and addition of organic amendments for management of dry rot of potato in pot experiment was further evaluated. Minimum per cent disease incidence (15.87%) was recorded in potato tuber treatment with carbendazim @250 ppm. Another experiment was also conducted for management of dry rot of potato in storage condition. The lowest (11.1%) disease incidence was recorded in potato tuber treated with carbendazim 50%WP @ 250 ppm and the maximum (37.78%) disease incidence was recorded in potato tuber treated with Citrus limon leaf essential oil @250 ppm compared to control (62.22%).