Efficacy of triazole fungicides for the integrated management of yellow rust, leaf rust and powdery mildew of wheat

Six triazole fungicides namely propiconazole (Tilt 25EC), triadimefon (Bayleton 25EC), difenoconazole (score 25EC), mono- and di-potassium salts of phosphorous acid (Topaz), fenarimol (Rubigan 12.5EC) applied @ 0.1%, hexaconazole (Contaf 5EC) @ 0.2% along with mancozeb (Indofil M 45) @ 0.25% were evaluated as foliar sprays for the management of leaf rust (LR) caused by Puccinia recondita, yellow rust (YR) caused by Puccinia striiformis and powdery mildew (PM) caused by Blumeria graminis f sp. tritici of wheat using variety sonalika. All the fungicides resulted in statistically lower YR and LR severity as compared with the unsprayed check. The least YR and LR severity (0.6%) was recorded in plots sprayed with difenoconazole (0.1%). Fungicides triadimefon, propiconazole and hexaconazole resulting in more than 85% YR and lR control with statistically higher grain yield compared with the unsprayed check (30.0 q/ha) were highly effective. Fungicide propiconazole sprayed @ 0.1% resulted in the highest mean yield (49.1q/ha) followed by triadimefon(46.9q/ha) and difenoconazole (46.4q/ha) and fenarimol (45.6q/ha). Fungicides propiconazole, hexaconazole, triadimefon and mancozeb 75WP @ 0.25%, evaluated as one and two sprays, resulted in significantly less severity of LR, YR and PM and significantly more yield as compared with no spray check (33.5 and 35.6, q/ha during the years 2000–01 and 2001–02, respectively) except in mancozeb (26.1 and 29.2q/ha, respectively). The highest mean grain yield of 48.3 q/ha was recorded in two sprays of triadimefon followed by 45.8q/ha in propiconazole (0.1%), with corresponding net profit of Rs. 22520 and 19400/ha and cost: benefit ratio of 1:7.6 and 1: 6.9, respectively. Even single spray of hexaconazole, triadimefon and propiconazole resulted in net profit of 13315, 11800 and 11185 with cost: benefit ratio of 1:10.5, 1:7.8 and 1:7.9, respectively.