Evaluation of the Bio-efficacy of Fungicides as Potato Tuber Treatment against Black Scurf Disease Caused by Rhizoctonia solani

Cultivation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is influenced by the several biotic and abiotic stresses. Numbers of fungal diseases have been reported on this crop by several workers in the world, which produced various types of typical symptoms. Black scurf is the major disease of this crop which cause huge losses in yield as well as quality of tubers. The management of R. solani is difficult due to soil borne nature. It is known to cause a large number of distinct diseases on a wide variety of plants and under more diverse environmental conditions than any other fungal pathogen. This diverse characteristic provides this pathogen with great potential for adaptability and survival. They usually limit the production of this crop hence the use of various practices is needed for successful management of this disease. The experiments conducted, have revealed that tuber treatment, before sowing with, Thiophanate Methyl 45% + Pyraclostrobin 5% FS @ 20 ml/100 kg seeds tubers and Thiophanate Methyl 45% + Pyraclostrobin 5% FS @ 16 ml/100 kg seeds tubers may be recommended to control Black Scurf disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani as well as to obtain higher yields.