EFFICACY OF FUNGICIDES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF CHICKPEA WILT DISEASE CAUSED BY FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM F.SP. CICERI.

Chickpea wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri is the most destructive and widespread fungal disease of chickpea. It has drastic effect on yield causing 100 % loss under favorable conditions. An attempt was made to explore the possibilities of controlling the disease through the help of using some fungicides. Experiment was conducted for selection of superior fungicides for the management of chickpea wilt disease under the red and lateritic zone of West Bengal. Ten fungicides were evaluated against the wilt pathogen in in-vitro condition with three concentrations, among of them Carbendazim exhibited 100% fungal growth inhibited at 1000 and 1500 ppm. Copper-Oxy Chloride exhibited least effective fungicides for inhibited the fungus growth at all three concentrations, with 51.11 %, 65.56% and 76.67 % inhibition at 500, 1000 and 1500 ppm respectively. In in-vivo experiment seven fungicides were evaluated, out of them Carbendazim was best for minimum in wilt incidence with 9.66 % is pooled value of two consecutive years followed by combination fungicides (Tebuconazole + Trifloxystrobin) with 10.12 % disease incidence. Chlorothalonil is the least effective fungicide for the management the disease with 15.18 % disease incidence. The studies revealed that, application of fungicide was significantly effective in managing the wilt pathogen as well as increasing the yield. This would help to farmers for selection of fungicides for managing the Fusarium wilt disease of chickpea.