Abstract

INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF LEAF BLIGHT DISEASE IN GLORIOSA SUPERBA

B.Meena* and K.Rajamani

Abstract

Leaf blight caused by Alternaria alternata is a destructive disease in Gloriosa superba. The effect of fungicides and biocontrol agents in inhibiting the leaf blight disease pathogen under in vitro condition and in managing the leaf blight disease under field conditions was investigated. Tebuconazole 0.1% significantly inhibited the growth of A. alternata in vitro with the least mycelial growth of 2.4 cm as against 8.6 cm in the control. Spraying tebuconazole 0.1% twice on 30 and 60 days after planting was effective in managing the leaf blight disease and increasing the seed yield under field conditions. The plant growth and yield parameters were found to be enhanced by spraying tebuconazole 0.1%. The maximum seed yield of 518.8 kg/ha was observed in spraying tebuconazole 0.1%, while in the control the minimum seed yield of 369.2 kg/ha was recorded.

Keywords: Leaf blight, Gloriosa superba, fungicides, biocontrol agents.