EFFICACY OF SELECTED FUNGICIDES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF  COCOYAM (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) LEAFBLIGHT IN KURU, PLATEAU  STATE, NIGERIA

Authors

S. G Pandukur Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, Author
A. B Zarafi Department of Crop Protection Author
S.E. L Alao Department of Crop Protection Author
D.I Adekpe Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. Author

Fungicide efficacy, field management, cocoyam leaf blight, Kuru, Nigeria.

Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) is a staple root and vegetable crop, but its

production is constrained by leaf blight (Phytophthora colocasiae) in North Central

Nigeria. An experiment was conducted at National Root Crop Research institute

(NRCRI) in Kuru, Plateau State for two planting seasons under rain fed to assess the

potential of fungicide-based management strategies to enhance the crops' production.

Treatments with five fungicides (Ridomil Gold, Glory 75% WG, Z-force WP, Red force

WPandSAAFWP) and control were tested for their effects on cocoyam leaf blight and

consequent tuber yield, applied at manufacturers' recommended rates as foliar sprays

at seven-day interval (6 weeks after planting (WAP)) while disease scoring began 7

WAP and a total of six sprays were carried and experiment laid out in a randomized

complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Results from the field trials

demonstrated that Glory 75 WG (A.I: Azoxystrobin 5% + Mancozeb 70% WG and

Ridomil Gold Mz 80 WP (A.I: Metalaxyl-M 40g/Kg + Mancozeb 40g/Kg) effectively

and significantly reduced disease incidence (65.14 - 27.57%) and (71.33 - 38.66%),

severity (43.43 - 19.14%) and (47.29 - 27.14%) respectively compared to the untreated

control (52.11 – 100%) and increased growth (leaf area, stand counts after planting)

and yield parameters (345 and 282.83 tubers and 36.53 and 35.79kg/ha corm weight)

respectively as the weeks after sprays (WASP) progresses from 1 - 6. Five fungicides

showed significant efficacy in managing cocoyam leaf blight (CLB), with treated plots

yielding nearly double the weight of untreated controls.Notably, the analysis identified

early-season disease pressure, particularly measurements taken at Week 3, as the most

critical determinant of final yield performance. The study recommends the

appropriate use of Azoxystrobin + Mancozeb, Metalaxyl-M + Mancozeb, and

Metalaxyl-M + Copper (I) oxide as an integrated management strategy of CLB.

S. G Pandukur, Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos,

Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos,
A. B Zarafi, Department of Crop Protection

Department of Crop Protection
S.E. L Alao , Department of Crop Protection

Department of Crop Protection
D.I Adekpe, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.