09-08-2013, 03:24 PM
Status of botrytis blight of gladiolus and their integrated disease management
ABSTRACT
Jammu region is bestowed with unique climatic condition which favours the cultivation of various types of ornamental flowers. Among the cut flowers, gladiolus is important one and widely grown under Jammu region. Several biotic stresses were recorded to be the bottleneck in the successful cultivation of gladiolus. In this connection, an extensive survey to assess the disease status of botrytis blight of gladiolus was conducted in Jammu, Kathua and Udhampur districts of Jammu division during 2007-09. In Jammu district, the botrytis blight ranged from 4.0 to 35 per cent during 2007-08, however during 2008-09 cropping season it ranged from 7.3 to 50.0 per cent. In Kathua district, the disease varied from 3.0 to 6.4 per cent during 2007-08 and 5.33 to 15.0 per cent (2008-09), whereas, in district Udhampur the severity of botrytis blight ranged from 5.0 to 11.5 (2007-08) and 5.0 to 10.0 per cent (2008-09), respectively. Under field studies, carbendazim (0.1 %) was most effective fungicide exhibited disease severity (19.71 %) with disease control (64.16 %), followed by SAAF (0.2 %) which showed severity (22.80 %) and disease control (58.54 %), respectively. Among the fungicides, mancozeb (0.2 %) was found least effective, control 51.81 per cent disease severity. However, neem oil (bio-pesticide) @ 0.2 per cent was least effective and showed 29.0 per cent disease control.