Evaluation of botanicals and fungicides for management of Alternaria leaf blight in carrot

Alternaria leaf blight caused by Alternaria alternata is one of the most important diseases affecting carrot production globally. The present investigation was conducted to assess the efficacy of certain botanicals and fungicides to manage leaf blight under in vitro and pot culture conditions. The garlic extract followed by neem extract at 10% concentration showed maximum inhibition of mycelial growth to the tune of 94.14 and 92.12 per cent respectively. Under pot culture conditions too the results were comparable where the foliar spray of garlic extract (24.02%) resulted in the least disease intensity. Fungicides viz., difenoconazole and hexaconazole at 100 ppm showed the maximum inhibition of mycelial growth under in-vitro conditions, recording 100% and 98.75% inhibition, respectively. In pot culture evaluation also difenoconazole resulted in the lowest disease intensity (16.05%), followed by hexaconazole (21.05%). These findings highlight the potential of neem and garlic extract as well as fungicide, difenoconazole for managing Alternaria leaf blight in carrot.