Evaluation of oomycete-specific fungicides and application strategies for controlling fruit rot disease on arecanut (Areca catechu L.)

Abstract

Phytophthora meadii causes fruit rot disease (FRD) in arecanut palm trees in the Western Ghats of Southern India. The control of this disease is challenging due to intrinsic factors like continuous rainfall, skilled climbers being required and the emergence of virulent biotypes. Farmers have been relying on the fungicides for the FRD control, however efficacy of these fungicides is largely dependent on application strategy, schedule and timings. The main aim of this investigation was to evaluate commonly used and newly developed 12 oomycete-specific fungicidal products with different application strategies in 2018 and 2019 at Malnad regions. Fungicides viz., Bordeaux mixture, Mandipropamid, Metalaxyl + Mancozeb and Fosetyl-Al were the most effective in reducing FRD and efficiently controlling (70–80%) the disease with a statistically significant difference compared to untreated control (p ≤ 0.05). However, the efficacy of the evaluated fungicides greatly varied over the years. In terms of application strategies, the pre-monsoon application proved to be more effective in controlling FRD under field conditions. Further, this study suggests that a calendar-based approach to fungicidal application is recommended for effective management of FRD.

Keywords:

• Arecanut
• disease management
• fungicides
• fruit rot disease
• Phytophthora meadii

Reviewing Editor:

• Manuel Tejada, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain

Subjects:

• Agriculture; Horticulture; Agriculture and Food

Acknowledgments

This study was part of the Ph.D. thesis of the first author and we are thankful to the Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga, Karnataka for providing the required financial assistance and collaborative institute ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod, Kerala, India for technical support, consultative facility. The authors would like to thank the Researchers Supporting Project Number (RSP2024R118), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Author contributions

Conceptualization, BP and SS; Methodology, BP and SS; Investigation, BP; Writing-original draft preparation, BP, RTPP and SHT; Writing-review and editing, RC, HOE, FAA, SS, RTPP, SHT, NCV and P. All authors agree with the content of this publication and consent to submit this article to the journal. The authors declare that they obtained content from the responsible authorities of the university and institute for the article.

Ethical approval

The authors declare that (i) the manuscripts have not been submitted to another journal simultaneously, (ii) the submitted work contains original data not published earlier, (iii) this article follows the experimental guidelines of the country, (iv) no human beings or animal are not involved during the study.

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [Balanagouda Patil], upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This research has received funding from Researchers Supporting Project Number [RSP2024R118], King Saud University.