Effect of Fungicides and Application Methods for the Management of Pepper Wilt Complex Diseases in Ethiopia

Pepper Wilt complex disease is one of the devastating soil-borne diseases, due to which 68-70% yield loss is recorded. Effects of different fungicides and application methods on wilt incidence and yield of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) were tested for two years at Fogera and for one year at Dera districts of South Gondar zone Ethiopia. Effects of fungicides viz. copper oxychloride (Isacope 50WP), mancozeb + metalaxyl (Omaxim), thiamethoxam + metalaxyl + difenoconazole (Apron Star 42WS), copper hydroxide (Sinoko) and application methods viz. seed +seedling treatment, seed + seedling treatment followed by spraying at crown region of the plant on wilt disease incidence and pepper yield were studied at Fogera and Dera districts of South Gondar zone Ethiopia. The fungicides were applied at the rates of 3 kg/ha, 2 kg/ha, 20 g/ha and 2.5 kg/ha for Isacope 50WP, Omaxim, Apron Star 42WS and Sinoko, respectively. The seeds of pepper treated with fungicides and untreated were sown in seedling bed. The 45-day old seedlings were uprooted from the seed bed and subjected to the seedling treatment in different fungicides for 30 minutes and were planted in field. The spraying of the fungicides at crown region of the plant was done at 15 days interval after the initiation of wilt disease. The data on wilt incidence and yield were recorded in each treatment. The price of pepper was assessed from the local market and the total price of the yield obtained from each treatment was computed on hectare basis. Input costs like fungicide and labor were converted into hectare basis according to their frequencies used. Based on the obtained data from the above-mentioned parameters economic analysis was performed. The result of the experiment indicates that, during 2020 year, the highest disease reduction (61.11% and 51.39%) over check and maximum dry pod yield (21.95 q/ha and 48.46 q/ha) was observed with T6 (seed treatment+ seedling treatment +foliar spraying with fungicide Omaxim (mancozeb + metalaxyl) at Fogera and Dera, respectively. Similarly, highest disease reduction (26.66%) and maximum green pod yield was observed in T6 at Fogera during 2021 year. Moreover, economic analysis revealed that T6 (application of seed treatment+ seedling treatment + foliar spraying of fungicide Omaxim within 15 days interval) is effective treatment.