Integrated Disease Management of Gummy Stem Blight in Bottle Gourd
V. Suresh *
Vegetable Research Station, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
Bagyashali H. hudge
Vegetable Research Station, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
B. Sai Krishna Nikhil
Vegetable Research Station, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
R. Preetham Goud
Vegetable Research Station, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
D. Anitha Kumari
Vegetable Research Station, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
D. Venkatesh
Vegetable Research Station, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Gummy stem blight, caused by Didymella bryoniae is a major constraint in bottle gourd production, leading to significant yield losses. The present study was conducted at the Vegetable Research Station, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, during 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24 to evaluate integrated disease management (IDM) approaches for effective control of the disease. Seven treatments involving fungicidal seed treatment, soil drenching, foliar fungicide application, micronutrients, and biological agents were tested under a randomized block design. Results revealed that Treatment 3 (T3) seed treatment with carbendazim 50% @ 2.5 g/kg seed + micronutrients @ 5 kg/ha at earthing + foliar sprays of azoxystrobin 4.8% + chlorothalonil 40% SC @0.25% consistently recorded the lowest disease severity (pooled mean: 10.91%) and the highest marketable yield (30.35 t/ha) with the maximum benefit cost ratio (2.78). The study concludes that T3 is the most effective IDM module for managing gummy stem blight in bottle gourd under field conditions.
Keywords: Bottle gourd, gummy stem blight, disease management