Combination fungicides offers substantial potential for management of rice blast disease by Magnaporthe oryzae

The eight different combination fungicides viz., Flusilazole 12.5% + Carbendazim 25% SC, Azoxystrobin 18.2% + Difenconazole 11.4% w/w SC, Azoxystrobin 11% + Tebuconazole 18.3% w/w SC, Tricyclazole 18% + Mancozeb 62% WP, Zineb 68% + Hexaconazole 4% WP, Trifloxystrobin 25% + Tebuconazole 50% WG, Mancozeb 50% + Carbendazim 25% WS, Fluxapyroxad 6.25% + Epoxiconazole 6.25% EC were evaluated at recommended dosage by poisoned food technique. Highest percent inhibition of mycelial growth of fungus was recorded in Tricyclazole 18% + Mancozeb 62% WP, Mancozeb 50% + Carbendazim 25% WS (100%) on Coimbatore as well as Gudalur blast isolates. Flusilazole 12.5% + Carbendazim 25% SC, Azoxystrobin 18.2% + Difenconazole 11.4% w/w SC, Azoxystrobin 11% + Tebuconazole 18.3% w/w SC and Trifloxystrobin 25% + Tebuconazole 50% WG had exerted maximum control on Gudalur isolate than Coimbatore isolate. These research findings highly demonstrate the efficacy of the combination fungicides and their potential for future rice blast management.