Efficacy of triazole fungicides in controlling fruit rot of chilli.

Field experiments were conducted for three consecutive Kharif seasons of 2009, 2010 and 2011 at the experimental farm of Zonal Agricultural Research Station (Sub-montane Zone), Shenda Park, Kolhapur, to study the efficacy of five fungicides of triazole group viz., tebuconazole 25.9% EC, difenconazole 25% EC, hexaconazole 5% SC, tricyclazole 75% WP and propiconazole 25% EC against fruit rot disease of chilli caused by Colletotrichum capsici . Performance of these triazole fungicides was compared with mancozeb 75% WP, propineb 70% WP, copper oxychloride 50% WP and carbendazim 50 WP. Fungicide, tebuconazole appeared the most effective amongst the fungicides tested, with reduction in fruit rot incidence and intensity to the tune of 69.96% and 73.56%, respectively over unsprayed control, followed immediately with similar efficacy by other two triazoles viz., difenconazole and hexaconazole. Highest dry fruit yield of 25.91 q ha-1 was recorded in the plots sprayed with tebuconazole and was at par with that obtained in difenconazole, hexaconazole, tricyclazole, propineb and mancozeb sprayed plots. Although, the maximum increase in yield was obtained by spraying tebuconazole, the maximum benefit:cost ratio was obtained with hexaconazole. It means that tebuconazole though increases the yield, the cost of fungicide could not be yet met out with the increased yield. Conclusively, the present investigation reveals that four sprayings of fungicide, hexaconazole 5% SC at the concentration of 0.1%, first in the early fruiting stage and subsequent three sprays at 14 days' interval, are most effective and economical for controlling fruit rot disease of chilli under Maharashtra conditions.