Efficacy of different fungicides against Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid causing castor root rot

Different systemic and non-systemic fungicides at three different concentration were evaluated in vitro against castor root rot pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina. Among the different contact (non-systemic) fungicides evaluated, maximum mean mycelial growth inhibition was observed in propineb and mancozeb (99.97%) followed by captan (85.63 %). Sclerotial formation was also absent in all this three treatments. Out of six systemic fungicides tested, carbendazim found best with 95.23 % mycelial growth inhibition followed by difenoconazole (75.47%) and thiophanate methyl (69.49%). Carbendazim showed maximum inhibition of mycelial growth (99.97%) of the test fungus at 250 ppm and 500 ppm concentration. Sclerotial formation was totally absent in all systemic fungicides treatments at 300 ppm concentration except hexaconazole which was also found poor in growth inhibition.