Integrated Management of Alternaria Blight in Linseed

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during 2008–2009 and 2009–2010 to manage Alternaria blight of linseed caused by Alterneria lini and A. linicola integrated with Trichoderma viride, fungicides and plant extract. Seed treatment (ST) with T. viride (4 g/kg seed) followed by two foliar sprays (FS) of mancozeb (0.25 %) decreased the 56.16 % blight intensity and 55.64 % bud damage on mean basis with significantly lower mean blight intensity of 23.24 % and bud damage of 12.81 %, respectively. It also increased 56.70 % seed yield with higher 1,000-seed weight (Test weight) of 7.22 g and seed yield of 1,364.58 kg/ha. This treatment was found at par with the treatments ST with thiophanate methyl (2 g/kg seed) followed by 2 FS of mancozeb (0.25 %) and recommended practice i.e. ST with thiram (3 g/kg seed) followed by 3 FS of mancozeb (0.25 %). Maximum net return of Rs. 8,891.25 with benefit cost (B:C) ratio 5.51 was also recorded with same treatment against the net return of Rs. 8,395.00 with B:C ratio of 3.87, in case of recommended practice. Seed treatment with T. viride followed by 2 FS of garlic bulb extract (1 % w/v) or neem leaf extract (5 % w/v) were also found economical and gave net return of Rs. 5,710 and 4,166.62 with B:C ratio of 4.73 and 5.24, respectively.