06-08-2013, 04:34 PM
Evaluation of fungicides and a bio-control agent against Powdery mildew disease of Ambri Apple
ABSTRACT
Seven fungicides and a bio-control agent viz; Ampelomyces quisqualis were evaluated against powdery mildew disease of apple caused by Podosphaera leucotricha under natural epiphytotic conditions at Ambri Apple Research Center Balpora, Shopian, SKUAST- K, Shalimar. Seven fungicides viz. Dinocap 48EC, Triademifon 25 WP, Myclobutanil 10 WP, Difenaconazole 25 EC, Bitertanol 25 WP, Metiram + Pyraclostrobin 60 WP and Sulphur 80 WP were sprayed at 15 days interval on the Ambri cultivar of apple, which is highly susceptible to the powdery mildew disease. The first spraying was conducted when the initiation of disease symptoms during the month of April were observed. Leaf assessments of powdery mildew incidence and disease severity were carried out immediately before each spray application and one week after the last spray. Triademifon @ 0.05% and Myclobutanil @ 0.03 % concentration proved most effective fungicides and observation recorded after last spray revealed disease control of 97.0 and 95.5 per cent over check, respectively. The bio-agent Ampelomyces quisqualis was not as effective as the fungicides; however, it also reduced powdery mildew intensity by 35.4 %.