Fungicidal management of sugarcane rust

Three non systemic fungicides viz. chlorothalonil 80 WP, mancozeb 75 WP and zineb 75 WP; five ergosterol biosynthesis inhibiting (eBi) fungicides namely difenconazole, hexaconazole, propiconazole, tebuconazole and triademefon and three combifungicides taqat, avatar and merger were evaluated through uredospore germination against Puccinia melanocephala, an incitant of sugarcane rust. all fungicides @ 0.25% completely inhibited uredospore germination. however, at 0.2 per cent Captan + hexaconazole was found to be more effective. among eBi fungicides, tebuconazole followed by hexaconazole at 0.1% were more effective than others in suppressing the uredospore germination of the pathogen. however at 0.15% completely inhibited uredospore germination, all the EBI fungicides cause complete suppression of spore germination. all the test fungicides were also field evaluated against the disease. Foliar spray of tebuconazole was most effective in controlling the disease and thereby increased the yield and yield attributing parameters with economical B:C ratio.