Varietal screening against black scurf of potato and its management by fungicide

Abstract

One of the most important diseases affecting soil and tuber crops, especially within the fungal category, is black scurf of potatoes, caused by Rhizoctonia solani. The primary source of infection is seed tubers that are infected. Indian farmers commonly used boric acid to control potato black scurf. In two consecutive years (2022–24), the bio-efficacy of novel compounds against the potato black scurf disease was assessed. Compared to the untreated tuber, all of the new generation fungicides dramatically reduced disease. The results showed that tuber treatment with Thifluzamid 24.0 SC @ 0.35 per cent had the lowest percentage of disease incidence and intensity (8.0 and 5.0). This was comparable to tuber treatment with Penflufen 22.43 per cent FS @ 0.1 per cent (8.3 & 6.7) and tuber treatment with Pencycuron 22.9 SC @ 0.35 per cent (9.9 & 6.8). and produced the maximum B: C ratio (2.41) and the highest tuber yield (25.6 t/ha). Twenty two varieties of potato were evaluated against black scurf of potato and revealed that Kufri Ganga, Kufri Mohan, Kufri Pushkar, Kufri Kiran, Kufri Thar 2, Kufri Thar 3 and Kufri Surya were found as resistant, However  Kufri Sukhyati, Kufri Lima, Kufri Neelkanth, Kufri Jamunia, Kufri Badshah, Kufri Sindhuri, Kufri Thar 1, Kufri Chipsona-1, Kufri Chipsona-2 and Kufri Chipsona-3 were as moderate resistant while, Kufri Pukhraj and Kufri Bahar as susceptible but none was found highly susceptible.