Management of soil borne diseases of groundnut through seed dressing fungicides

• Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea (L.) is an important oilseeds and ancillary food crop in India with 4.7 million tonnes production from 4.7 million ha area (2012–13), and also has good export potential with about 0.56 million tonnes in 2012–13.
• India is the largest grower of groundnut and second largest producer after China with a national average productivity about 821 kg ha−1 in kharif and 3000 kg ha−1 during rabi-summer (2012–13).
• Soil borne diseases viz., stem rot, collar rot and aflaroot are potential threat to groundnut cultivation.
• Although some plant diseases may be managed through resistant varieties and alteration of cultural practices, some diseases are only managed effectively with the application of suitable fungicides.
• In this context, we evaluated ten systemic seed dressing fungicides and their combinations for management of major soil borne diseases of groundnut during kharif 2009 and 2010 at Directorate of Groundnut Research (DGR), Junagadh Experimental Farm.
• The fungicides viz., hexaconazole, tebuconazole, propiconazole, difenconazole, vitavax, carbendazim along with captan and mancozeb and various combinations were applied as seed treatment at recommended doses.
• Based on our studies, it is concluded that seed treatment with tebuconazole @ 1.5 g kg−1 seed, mancozeb @ 3 g kg−1 seed and carbendazim + mancozeb @ 3 g kg−1 seed were very effective in management of soil borne diseases of groundnut and these treatments were also exhibited good yield.

Soil borne diseases viz., stem rot, collar rot and aflaroot are potential threat to groundnut cultivation. Although some plant diseases may be managed through resistant varieties and alteration of cultural practices, some diseases are only managed effectively with the application of suitable fungicides. About 150 chemicals belonging to different classes are used as fungicides in various countries. In this context, we evaluated ten systemic seed dressing fungicides and their combinations for management of major soil borne diseases of groundnut during kharif 2009 and 2010 at Directorate of Groundnut Research (DGR), Junagadh Experimental Farm. The fungicides viz., hexaconazole, tebuconazole, propiconazole, difenconazole, vitavax, carbendazim along with captan and mancozeb and various combinations were applied as seed treatment at recommended doses. The results indicated that tebuconazole 2 DS @ 1.5 g kg−1 seed, mancozeb 75% WP @ 3 g kg−1 seed, carbendazim 12% + mancozeb 63% WP @ 3 g kg−1 seed, were very effective in the management of soil borne diseases when used separately, with apparent yield advantage over untreated plots.