Evaluation of the Effects of Systemic Fungicide Application on Disease Severity, Growth, Yield and Grain Quality of Different Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Varieties under Maharashtra Conditions

A two-year field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2023–24 and 2024–25 at a research farm in the Shrigonda (Ahilyanagar) zone of Maharashtra to evaluate the effects of systemic fungicide applications on disease severity, plant growth, grain yield, and grain quality of four bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties recommended for the state. The varieties represented different levels of resistance to major diseases prevalent in Maharashtra, particularly leaf rust and stem rust. Treatments included an untreated control and three systemic fungicide programmes: T1, a single spray of tebuconazole 25.9% EC at flowering; T2, sequential sprays of propiconazole 25% EC at flag-leaf stage followed by tebuconazole at flowering; and T3, seed treatment with carboxin + thiram followed by tebuconazole at flowering. Fungicide treatments reduced leaf rust and stem rust severity by approximately 48–74%, with T2 and T3 providing the strongest disease suppression. Fungicide application improved plant height, effective tiller number and green leaf duration. Grain yield increased by 10.5–26.8% relative to the untreated control, with larger responses in susceptible varieties under greater disease pressure. Thousand-grain weight, test weight and grain protein content were improved, while chapati-making quality remained favourable. Variety × fungicide interactions were significant for most traits. The findings support the use of disease-resistant or moderately resistant cultivars combined with need-based systemic fungicide applications under Maharashtra conditions.