Evaluation of chemicals and plant defense activators against red rot of sugarcane caused by Colletotrichum Falcatum.

Red rot of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) caused by Colletotrichum falcatum is considered as the most destructive disease in many sugarcane growing countries. C. falcatum may decrease weight of cane by up to 29% and sugar loss by 31%. In this study, nine commercial fungicide formulations were tested in lab conditions: Shincar exhibited minimum fungal growth (4.13) followed by Nativo (15.62), Amister Top (26.19), Topsin M (37.64), Ridomil Gold (45.19), Allite (52.49), Score (59.44), Antracol (67.71) and Rovral (76.81) as compared to control. In green house Salicylic acid + KH2PO4 exhibited minimum disease incidence (10.40) followed by Salicylic acid spray (13.92) and KH2PO4 spray (20.25) as compared to control. In field Carbendazim spray exhibited minimum disease incidence (10.10) followed by Salicylic acid spray (21.60), carbendazim + Salicylic acid+ KH2PO4 drench (32.17), KH2PO4 spray (43.62), Carbendazim drench (51.19), Salicylic acid drench (58.49), KH2PO4 drench (65.52), Coragen (Chlorantraniliprole) drench (74.297) and micro-nutrients spray (82.854) as compared to control. Under lab conditions, shincar showed best result while in green house Salicylic acid+ KH2PO4 and in field condition carbendazim showed the best results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]