1Central Potato Research Station, P.B. No. 20, Ootacamund, (T.N.).
Six fungicides namely Dithane M-45, Daconil 2787 (75 WP), Panoctine 35, Difolatan 80 WP, Fytolan and Ridomil were tested for their suitability in the control of early blight, late blight and gray mould (or vine kill) diseases of potato caused by Alternaria solani, Phytophthora infestans and Botrytis cinerea, respectively, in seven seasons during 1978 through 1980 at different places in the Nilgiris Ridomil controlled late blight most effectively but failed to control early blight. Daconil 2787 @ 1.7 kg/ha was second to Ridomil in the control of late blight, most effective in the control of early blight and gray mould diseases. Daconil 2787 gave highest yield at that dosage. Statistically, however, Daconil 2787 was at par with Dithane M-45 with var. Kufri Chandramukhi in two trials conducted during 1979 and at par with Difolatan 80 WP with var. Kufri Jyoti in three trials conducted during 1978 and 1979; and at par with Dithane M-45 with variety Kufri Chandramukhi in one of the trials during 1980. Daconil @ 1.7 kg/ha was thus, either at par with or superior to Dithane M-45 and Difolatan 80 WP. Fytolan and Panoctine were found to be inferior to other fungicides tried in various trials.
