Effect of New Generation Fungicides against Fusarium solani Causing Root Rot of Papaya (Carica papaya L.)

Aims: The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of fungicides in controlling Papaya (Carica papaya L.) root rot caused by Fusarium solani. Background: The persistent challenge of root rot, exacerbated by inadequate control measures, underscores the necessity for innovative disease management strategies. The advent of new-generation fungicides marks a significant progression in the management of plant diseases, particularly root rot in papaya. These fungicides are engineered for more precise action, demonstrating enhanced efficacy at lower application rates while minimizing environmental repercussions compared to conventional fungicides. Their development is a response to the escalating issue of resistance among fungal pathogens and the imperative for sustainable agricultural practices. Methodology: This research was conducted during the 2022-23 period at the ICAR-AICRP on the Fruits experimental field and the Fruit Pathology Laboratory at RPCAU Pusa, Bihar, India. In this study, ten distinct new-generation fungicides were assessed in vitro at varying concentrations of 50, 100, 150, 250, and 500 ppm against Fusarium solani, the causative agent of root rot in papaya, utilizing the poisoned food technique. The data collected from the experiments were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA, facilitated by Past 4.0 software. Findings: The findings reveal that the fungicides assessed successfully mitigated root rot disease caused by Fusarium solani. The combination of Metalaxyl and Mancozeb at 100 ppm emerged as the most effective treatment, achieving a 93.41% inhibition rate compared to the control, while Tebuconazole at the same concentration resulted in a 91.18% inhibition. Conversely, Fosetyl-Al at 100 ppm was the least effective, exhibiting only a 25.92% inhibition rate. Conclusion and Recommendation: The combination of Metalaxyl and Mancozeb at 100 ppm demonstrated exceptional efficacy, completely inhibiting fungal mycelial growth. Therefore, this study recommends further research on the Metalaxyl and Mancozeb combination in large-scale field trials to confirm its potential as an effective control measure for papaya root rot.