Comparative Study of Fungicides, Bio-Agents and Organic Amendments for Management of Black Scurf of Potato

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important staple food crop of the world. India rank 2nd after China producing 52588.98 thousand metric tons potato per year. In India, among all the states Uttar Pradesh stands first with the production of 15812.62 thousand metric tons followed by West Bengal with the production of 12782.00 thousand metric tons in the year 2018-19. Potato is infected by a number of soil and tuber borne diseases and pest. Among all, black scurf (Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn.) is a destructive disease of potato. The most common phase of this disease is formation of sclerotial masses on the tuber resulting in black scurf which considerably reduces market value of edible tubers. In present investigation different bio-agents and chemicals were tested for management of the disease were used under field conditions. Among the bio-agents, Trichoderma harzianum, Chaetomium globosum, Bacillus subtilis, with vermicompost. Fungicides, Boric acid @ 3%, Carbendazim 50% WP @ 1%, Mencozeb @ (0.2%) and Pencycuron @ (0.2%) concentration. In field experiment the result revealed that the minimum disease incidence was recorded (12.00%) in Mancozeb @ 0.25% foliar spray compared to untreated check 60.00% and minimum disease severity (18.96%) and maximum yield 275.00 q/ha was recorded in Boric acid @ 3% tuber treatment compared to untreated control.