Jul 2026· International Journal of Life Science and Agriculture Research· Vol 05· 0 citations
Abstract
Sheath rot caused by Sarocladium oryzae (Sawada), is a major disease of rice that can significantly reduce grain yield and quality, resulting in economic losses for farmers. This study evaluated the efficacy of selected fungicides for the management of sheath rot disease under field conditions in Guyana and also assessed the potential socio-economic benefits. Three field trials were conducted during the Spring and Autumn cropping seasons of 2022 and the Spring cropping season of 2024 at the Plant Pathology Department Experimental Area, Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Rice Research Station (RRS), Burma. The experiments were established using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications per treatment. The rice variety GRDB 14 was grown under recommended agronomic practices, and fungicides were applied at their respective rates. Results from the three trials demonstrated that most fungicidal treatments reduced sheath rot disease severity and improved growth and yield parameters compared with untreated control. The most effective treatments were Top Cop at 250 ml/ac, Onix at 350 ml/ac, Curacarb at 250 ml/ac, Saaf at 300 g/ac, and the positive check, Fugi One at 300 ml/ac, which reduced disease severity by 68.00–76.00% relative to the untreated control. Other treatments also reduced disease severity by 31.99–48.00%. Yield responses were mostly positive across the trials, with increases ranging from 2.23–34.23% in Spring 2022, 8.69–90.98% in Autumn 2022, and 3.31–70.43% in Spring 2024 over the untreated control. The reduction in disease severity and some levels of increase in grain yield indicate that effective fungicide use can enhance rice productivity and profitability. In general, increased yields can improve the overall farm income, strengthen household livelihoods, and contribute slowly towards reduction of poverty leading to greater economic returns. Furthermore, improved productivity supports sustainable rice production, enhances food security, and allows for benefits to stakeholders throughout Guyana’s rice value chain. Based on the consistent performance of Top Cop at 250 ml/ac, Onix at 350 ml/ac, Curacarb at 250 ml/ac, Saaf at 300 g/ac, and the positive check, Fugi One at 300 ml/ac are recommended for the management of sheath rot disease, particularly in areas where the disease is most prevalent.
Brown spot, caused by Bipolaris oryzae, is an important constraint to rice production under favourable disease conditions. This study evaluated the field efficacy of eight fungicides against brown spot and assessed disease severity among rice genotypes cultivated in farmers’ fields. A randomised complete block design with three replications was established at Rampur, Chitwan, using the susceptible cultivar Sankharika. Eight fungicide treatments and an untreated control were compared following three foliar applications at seven-day intervals. Disease severity and the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) were determined, and grain yield was correlated with AUDPC. A roving survey was also conducted at 21 locations in Chitwan and Nawalparasi districts. All fungicide treatments reduced final disease severity relative to the untreated control. Metalaxyl 8% + mancozeb 64% WP recorded the lowest mean AUDPC (436.85), followed by carbendazim (470.50) and hexaconazole (482.20). Hexaconazole recorded the lowest final disease severity (28.90%), whereas the untreated control recorded 45.20%. The association between grain yield and AUDPC was weak and not statistically significant (r = −0.031). The survey identified six genotypes, with maximum severity of 78% in Samba Mansuli and Sabitri and minimum severity of 26% in Kalo Basmati. These findings indicate differential fungicide performance and genotype responses under the evaluated field conditions and support further multilocation and multiseason validation.
Rajan Lamsal, Surakshya Ghimire, Gautam Thapa et al.· Asian Journal of Biology· 0 citations
Cowpea is a major grain legume cultivated in the drier regions of Sri Lanka. Its plant stand and yield are adversely affected by root infections resulting from soil-borne pathogenic fungi. Cowpea production is severely constrained by Fusarium root rot caused by Fusarium solani. This study hypothesized that integrating resistant cowpea cultivars with fungicides could improve disease management under field conditions in Batticaloa, Experiments were conducted to evaluate the integrated use of four cowpea cultivars (Bombay, Dhawala, Waruni, and Wijaya) and three fungicides (captan, homai, and topsin) for managing F. solani root rot. The study was arranged in a factorial randomized complete block design with 16 treatments and three replications. Before the field experiment, an in vitro study was conducted to culture the fungal growth of F. solani on potato dextrose agar. After culturing, the pathogen was inoculated by soil drenching, followed by fungicide application to evaluate cultivar–fungicide interactions. Disease incidence, disease severity, total grain weight, 100-seed weight, and total dry pod weight were recorded. The Bombay × topsin combination significantly reduced disease severity. Among the cultivars, Wijaya recorded the lowest disease incidence and severity and the highest grain yield. Topsin and homai effectively reduced disease incidence and severity while improving grain yield. Overall, Wijaya combined with topsin or homai was identified as the most effective strategy for managing Fusarium root rot in cowpea under Batticaloa conditions. These findings provide a practical integrated disease management strategy to reduce yield losses and promote sustainable cowpea production in Sri Lanka.
S. Satheer, Alfs Sahma, K. Prasannath· Knowex food and agriculture· 0 citations
White rust, caused by Albugo candida, is one of the most destructive diseases of Indian mustard, resulting in significant yield and economic losses. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of different fungicides for the management of white rust under field conditions. Field experiments were conducted at the Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute (RARI), Durgapura, Jaipur, during the rabi seasons of 2024–25 and 2025–26. Fungicidal sprays were applied at the onset of disease symptoms, and observations on disease intensity, seed yield, and economic returns were recorded. All fungicidal treatments significantly reduced disease intensity and increased seed yield compared with the untreated control. Among the treatments, Metalaxyl 8% + Mancozeb 64% WP applied at 0.20% proved to be the most effective, recording the lowest disease intensity (13.89% and 15.00% during 2024–25 and 2025–26, respectively), the highest pooled seed yield (14.01 q ha⁻¹), and the maximum incremental cost-benefit ratio (2.85). Kresoxim-methyl 44.3% SC and Kitazin 48% EC were the next most effective fungicides in reducing disease severity and improving seed yield. In contrast, Aureofungin 46.15% SP recorded the highest pooled disease intensity (37.21%) and the lowest disease reduction over the untreated control. The findings demonstrate that Metalaxyl 8% + Mancozeb 64% WP at 0.20% is an effective and economically viable fungicidal option for the management of white rust in Indian mustard under Rajasthan conditions.
S. Choudhary, R. Bagri, Bhavya Mishra et al.· Journal of Experimental Agri...· 0 citations
Spot blotch, caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana, is one of the most destructive foliar diseases limiting wheat productivity, particularly under the warm and humid conditions of the Indo-Gangetic Plains. The present study was conducted during the 2024-25 Rabi season at the Norman E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, to evaluate the efficacy of different fungicides against spot blotch under field conditions. The experiment comprised eight fungicidal treatments, including triazoles, strobilurins, their combinations, and a contact fungicide, together with an untreated control. Two foliar sprays were applied at 10-day intervals after disease initiation. Disease severity was assessed as percentage disease intensity (PDI), while grain yield and the percentage increase in yield over the untreated control were recorded. Among the treatments, tebuconazole 50% + trifloxystrobin 25% (0.10%) was the most effective in reducing disease severity and increasing yield. The findings indicate that triazole-strobilurin combination fungicides provided better management of spot blotch, which may be associated with their complementary preventive and curative modes of action and systemic activity.
K. Kandpal, Deepshikha, Archana Kushwaha et al.· Microbiology Research Journa...· 0 citations
The present study evaluated the synergistic effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and beneficial rhizospheric microorganisms on the growth, root colonisation, and yield of mustard (Brassica juncea L.), a crop traditionally regarded as a poor or non-mycorrhizal host. A field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 at the Research Farm of Nirmal Seeds Pvt. Ltd., Maharashtra, India, using the mustard variety NIMOH-8. The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design (RBD) with seven treatments and three replications. The treatments comprised soil application of a mycorrhizal powder formulation alone or in combination with Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma harzianum, and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Standard agronomic practices were followed throughout the study. Plant growth, yield attributes, and root colonisation were assessed at harvest, and roots were stained using the Phillips and Hayman (1970) technique. The application of bio-inoculants significantly improved growth and yield parameters compared with the untreated control. The highest number of siliquae per plant (541.9), seed yield per plant (14.13 g), and seed yield (23.28 q ha⁻¹) were recorded in T4, which comprised mycorrhizal powder formulation (250 g ha⁻¹) + Trichoderma viride WP (2.5 kg ha⁻¹). Treatment T7 (mycorrhiza + T. viride + Pseudomonas fluorescens) produced comparable results, with 525.7 siliquae per plant and a yield of 23.15 q ha⁻¹. Microscopic examination of stained roots confirmed AMF colonisation in the combined inoculation treatments, characterised by intraradical hyphae, vesicles, external mycelium, and arbuscules; no fungal colonisation was observed in the untreated control. Enhanced root colonisation was associated with improved plant growth and productivity, indicating a positive interaction between AMF and beneficial rhizospheric microorganisms. The study demonstrated that integrating AMF with Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens enhanced mycorrhizal establishment, nutrient acquisition, and mustard productivity. Among the treatments tested, the combination of mycorrhiza and T. viride was the most effective. These findings indicate the potential of microbial consortia as an environmentally compatible strategy for improving mustard yield and crop productivity.
Valmik M. Patil, K. Patole, Mukesh Borse et al.· Asian Journal of Soil Scienc...· 0 citations
The results showed that the PGPR treatments evaluated under M. phaseolina infection conditions played a role in both disease suppression and sesame growth enhancement, such that the PGPR-treated cultivar “Shevin” simultaneously showed reduced infection and improved growth traits.
