International Journal of Pest Management (1999) 45, 15-21

C. Chattopadhyay (1999)
Yield loss attributable to Alternaria blight of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in India and some potentially effective control measures
International Journal of Pest Management 45 (1), 15-21
Abstract: Simulation of epidemics of Alternaria blight [Alternaria helianthi (Hansf.) Tubaki and Nishihara; A. alternata (Fr.) Keissler] at different plant growth stages resulted in yield losses as high as 61.9% in `Morden' and 49.7% in `APSH 11' cultivars of sunflower. The number of seeds per head and their test weight were also significantly reduced. Regression of yield losses on % disease severity gave r2 values between 0.89 and 0.96. Infection at the late vegetative to budding stage caused greatest losses in yield. Additions of carbendazim, glucose, azadirachtin and bulb extract of Allium sativum were inhibitory to mycelial growth of A. helianthi . Mycelial growth of A. alternata was controlled by mancozeb, azadirachtin and Azadirachta indica leaf extract. Foliar application of carbendazim (0.1% a. i.) at 30, 45 and 60 days after sowing significantly (P<0.05) reduced disease severity and increased yield. Bulb extract (1% w/v) of A. sativum was the best among the tested botanicals and second to carbendazim, with a significant difference in theiryield. Soilapplication ofKCl@ 84 kg/ha, foliar spray of A. indica leaf extract (1% w/v), and azadirachtin also reduced disease severity and increased yield over the control. Integration of carbendazim spray with KCl soil application at the recommended dose of N fertilizer was most effective in disease reduction with corresponding increase in yield. The treatment A. sativum bulb extract spray + KCl soil application at recommended dose of N ranked second in disease reduction and yield performance.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Chirantan Chattopadhyay

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
damage/losses/economics
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Alternaria alternata	Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)	India
	Alternariaster helianthi	Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)	India