EFFICACY OF FUNGICIDES IN CONTROLLING TIKKA - AND RUST DISEASES OF GROUNDNUT

Eight different fungicides namely, Bavistin 50WP, Calixin 750EC, Ditha ne M-45, Folicur 250EC, Knowin 50WP, Penncozeb 80WP, Plantvax 75WP and Tilt 250EC were tested against tikka and rust disease of groundnut fo r consecutive three years. The rate of disease spread per day was redu ced by the test fungicides. Folicur 250EC reduced the diseases signifi cantly (p=0.01) and thereby increased pod yield by 58% as compared to check plots. Folicur 250EC seemed to be the best fungicide followed by Bavistin 50WP with respect to disease control and yield. Positive lin ear relationship existed between tikka and rust diseases. The diseases were related negatively to the pod yield of the crop. Comparatively m ore loss in crop yield was incurred by tikka disease.