Evaluation of Efficacy of Fungicides against Puccinia sorghi, Incitant of Maize Rust under In vivo Conditions in the Mid Hill Region of Jammu, India

Maize (Zea mays L.) occupies the first rank in terms of production and productivity whereas the third important cereal crop of world after rice and wheat with wide adaptability to diverse agro- climatic condition of world and considered as climate resilient crop. The present study is mainly focussed on testing the field efficacy of some new fungicides as foliar sprays for the effective management of maize rust. he trial for testing the efficacy of different fungicides viz., Propiconazole 25 EC, Chlorothalonil 75 WP, Azoxystrobin 25 EC and Hexaconazole 5 EC at different concentrations were carried out. Among the five treatments, treatment with strobilurin group of fungicide i.e. Azoxystrobin 25 EC @ 0.2 percent dosage proved to be effective overall the treatments with lowest disease severity of 9.88 per cent, followed by azole group of fungicides like Propiconazole 25 EC @ 0.2% with disease severity of 11.14 per cent and Hexaconazole 5 EC @0.1 % dosage with disease severity of 13.66 per cent. disease severity was recorded to be in the range from 9.88 to 24.22 per cent. Among all the treatments highest disease severity of 24.22 per cent was recorded in treatment with Chlorothalonil 75 WP @ 0.2 % dosage. Results revealed that strobilurin group of fungicides are more site specific, protective and curative properties and are less prone to resistance development and also translaminar and systemic nature helps this group of fungicide to be most effective against azole group of fungicides.