EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF CHEMICALS USED AS SEED DRESSING FOR THE CONTROL OF BERSEEM ROOT ROT

Abstract

Evaluation of different fungicides against berseem root rot disease was carried out at Adaptive Research Farm, Gujranwala. The traditional berseem variety harroo was planted in the month of October by following Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three repeats. Before sowing the seeds were treated with chemicals containing active ingredients i.e., carbendazim, thiophenate-methyle, imidacloprid+tebuconazole and bromothalanil at the rates of 2.50 gm, 2.50 gm, 4.00 ml and 2.50 gm per kg of berseem seed respectively. All the treatments proved significantly efficient over control in reduction of berseem root rot level. The treatment involving bromothalnil proved superior over all the treatments and reduced berseem root rot infection to a considerable extent with maximum green fodder yield. But on the basis of cost benefit ratio thiophenate-methyle proved the most economical followed by bromothalnil. Hence these two fungicides can safely be recommended for seed treatment for the control of berseem root rot disease in berseem fodder crop. Key words: berseem root rot, fodder yield, fusarium, harroo berseem, winter fodde