Premjit Singh

Gladiolus is an important florist crop popular as cut flower in domestic and international market. It is mainly propagated through corms whose rate of multiplication is slow. Botrytis blight of gladiolus, caused by Botrytis gladiolorum Timm., is a serious disease of gladiolus. It plays a major havoc with the crop under cool and wet weather conditions. Keeping in view the hazardous nature of the fungicides, an effort was made to test efficacy of botanicals and organic acids against the fungus under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Aqueous extracts of twenty-six plants belonging to different species were evaluated in the study out of which garlic (Allium sativum) and onion (A. cepa) were found to be the most promising in inhibiting spore germination of the fungus and holding back severity of infection. Garlic was found to be more effective than onion for control of the disease. The efficacy of garlic and onion was nearly on par with mancozeb (Dithane M-45, 0.2%), a fungicide which is ...

WP, 0.2%), iprodione (Rovral 50%WP, 0.1 and 0.2%), propineb (Antracol 70 WP, 0.2%), ziram (Cuman-L 27% SC, 0.2%), iprobenphos (Kitazin 48% EC, 0.15%), copper oxychloride (Blitox 50W, 0.2%), vinclozolin (Ronilan 50% WP, 0.1 and 0.2%), chlorothalonil (Kavach 75 WP, 0.1 and 0.2%), difenoconazole (Score 25 EC, 0.05%) and penconazole (Topas 10% EC, 0.05%). Data on severity of the disease on leaves and flowers were recorded on a 0-4 scale 10 days after the last spray (normally fourth or fifth). Yield data on number and weight of apparently healthy or saleable flowers were also recorded.