Efficacy of Fungicides in Control of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi, the Cause of Wilt in Carnation

The fungus that causes wilt of carnations is Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi, specific only to carnations and closely related plants. In our study, six fungicides were selected and tested their efficacy in reducing the Fusarial population and wilt incidence. The fungicides were applied to the soil by drenching method. Fusarium population was recorded at before the application of fungicides and every 15 days interval upto 45th day after application. Among all the tested fungicides, propiconazole @0.1 per cent (1.66 ×103 cfu per gram of soil and 9.33% wilt incidence) followed by carbendazim @0.2 per cent (2.66×103 cfu per gram of soil and 11.19% wilt incidence) were significantly found effective in reduction of soil population of Fusarium and wilt incidence in polyhouse condition.