Integrated management of early blight of potato under Kashmir valley conditions

Five non-systemic fungitoxicants viz., chlorothalonil 50 WP, mancozeb 75 WP, captan 50 WP, propineb 70 WP and copper oxychloride 50 WP at six concentrations (1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000 and 3500 ppm) each and five systemic fungitoxicants viz., thiophenate methyl 70 WP, carbendazim 50 WP, hexaconazole 5 EC, fenarimol 12 EC and difenconazole 25 EC at six concentrations (100, 150, 200, 250, 300 and 350 ppm) each were evaluated in vitro against Alternaria solani (Ellis and Martin) Jones and Grout causing early blight of potato through poisoned food technique. Among non-systemic fungitoxicants mancozeb 75 WP, irrespective of concentration was most effective and inhibited a maximum mean mycelial growth inhibition of 75.46% over check, followed by propineb 70 WP, captan 50 WP, chlorothalonil 75 WP, and copper oxychloride 50 WP with mycelial growth inhibition of 68.09, 66.07, 58.89, and 57.81% respectively. Among systemic fungitoxicants hexaconazole 5 EC was most effective and exhibited a maximum mean mycelial growth inhibition of 84.19% over check. Under in vivo conditions seed treatment with mancozeb 75WP (0.3 %) + foliar spray with hexaconazole 5 EC (0.1%) + foliar spray with datura (50%) + foliar spray with Trichoderma harzianum (1 × 107 spore/ml) were highly effective in controlling the disease severity as compared to control.   Key words: Fungitoxicants, Alternaria solani, poisoned food technique, Trichoderma harzianum, datura, early blight, potato.