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Relative performance of fungicides and crude leaf extract of Azadirachta indica against leaf blight of onion

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Abstract

Leaf blight caused by Stemphylium vesicarium is a major production constraint in seed production of onion. The disease adversely affects the quantity and quality of seed. Stringent laws favoring eco-friendly alternatives to agrochemicals and the ban of many fungicides advocate the necessity of safer alternatives to combat this fungal menace. The present study highlights the performance of crude leaf extracts of Azadirachta indicia against leaf blight of onion to provide insight into the safe and effective nature of this botanical in curtailing the pathogenic losses to the crop. Six commercial fungicides having different mode of action viz. Zineb75%WP (2.5%), Mancozeb75%WP (2.5%), Iprobenfos 48% EC (0.1%), Tebuconazole 25% EC (0.1%), Difenconazole 25% EC (0.1%) and Azoxystrobin 25% SC (0.1%) were used to compare their efficacy relative to crude leaf extract of A. indica. The crude leaf extract of A. indica exhibited better reduction in disease incidence (61.82%, 57.70%) and severity (64.52% and 61.50%) than organophosphate and strobilurin fungicides under field conditions during crop season 2018–19 and 2019–2020 respectively. Seeds obtained from A. indica crude leaf extract sprayed plots exhibited 83.05%, 80.33% seed germination during the two consecutive years, 2018–19 and 2019–20 which was comparable with the dithiocarbamate and triazole (85.05% from Mancozeb 75 WP and 85.11% from Tebuconazole 25% EC) fungicides sprayed plots. Three sprays of crude extracts of A. indica leaves were as effective as chemical fungicidal applications for the management of this devastating disease in seed production of onion.

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Funding

The funding was received by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR-18) for conducting field experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

    Anju Bala Sharma

  2. Division of Seed Science and Technology, IARI, New Delhi, India

    Atul Kumar

  3. Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

    Anjali Sidhu

Authors
  1. Anju Bala Sharma
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  2. Atul Kumar
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  3. Anjali Sidhu
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Contributions

ABS was involved in sowing of onion, preparation of inoculum, inoculation of the pathogen, preparation of leaf extracts, spraying of fungicides and A. indica leaf extracts, data recording and interpretation of results; AK was involved in data analysis and preparation of MS. AS was involved in phytochemical screening of A. indica crude leaf extract.

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Correspondence to Anju Bala Sharma.

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Sharma, A.B., Kumar, A. & Sidhu, A. Relative performance of fungicides and crude leaf extract of Azadirachta indica against leaf blight of onion. Indian Phytopathology 75, 1085–1093 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42360-022-00539-z

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