Evaluation of Fungicides for the Management of Garlic White Rot (Sclerotium cepivorum) at Debre Berhan, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Garlic is one of the most important crops widely cultivated throughout the world including Ethiopia. It is the second most widely cultivated Allium species next to onion. The production of the crop is majorly threatened by fungal diseases. White rot of garlic caused by Sclerotium cepivorum, is the most devastating constraint in Ethiopia. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of fungicide types on incidence and severity of garlic white rot, yield and yield components of garlic and to identify the effective method of fungicides application under rain fed supplemented with irrigation at Debre Berhan University Research site in 2017/18 .The experiment was consisted of three types of fungicides (Apron star, MORE 720 WP and Mancozeb) with three methods of application (clove, clove plus foliar and foliar). The experiment was laid out as RCBD in a factorial arrangement with three replications. Fungicide types and methods of application significantly affected disease incidence, percentage of disease severity, area under disease progress curve (AUDPC), yield and yield components. Clove and clove plus foliar applied Apron star was the most effective in reducing the disease epidemics and gave better yield advantage. Clove applied Apron star has reduced the initial severity, final severity and incidence by 64.7%, 70.9% and 80.6% respectively, as compared to the untreated plots. About 63.6% and 51.9% increment of average bulb weight and yield were recorded in clove applied Apron star respectively, as compared to the untreated plots. The highest net return (35,350 birr) was obtained from clove applied Apron star plots, while the lowest net return (2350 birr) was obtained from foliar applied Apron star plots. Hence, it could be concluded that clove applied with Apron star needs to use for the disease management in the study area.