Rice diseases caused by fungi are considered the main constraint in rice production and cause both qualitative and quantitative losses. Rice blast caused by Pyricularia oryzae is the most severe and widely distributed disease of rice worldwide having significant economic importance, resulting in yield losses of up to 50%. Therefore to know the effect of Prochloraz 45% EC on blast (Pyricularia oryzae) disease of rice crop the experiment was laid out with 6 treatments and replicated four times in RBD design at ARS, Gangavati. The variety BPT-5204 was sown with the spacing of 20 cm x 10 cm in plot size of 5 X 5 m2 with all regular agronomic practices followed as per the standard package of practice of University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur. The fungicide Prochloraz 45% EC was applied as foliar spray treatment in the replicated plots just after the appearance of blast disease in the main field. The observations were recorded on the basis of scoring of the diseases as per the standard disease rating scale. Among the treatments, Prochloraz 45% EC @ 1250 ml/ha and Prochloraz 45% EC @ 1000 ml/ha were found to be the best treatments as there were 6.35 PDI and 6.56 PDI of leaf blast disease in rice were recorded, respectively as compared to 38.30 PDI of leaf blast disease in untreated control during first season at terminal observation. Similarly, during second season Prochloraz 45% EC @ 1250 ml/ha recorded 6.50 PDI which was on par with Prochloraz 45% EC @ 1000 ml/ha (6.83 PDI) and found superior than rest of the treatments at terminal observation. Maximum PDI i.e. 39.03 was recorded under untreated control condition. Prochloraz 45% EC @ 1250 ml/ha and Prochloraz 45% EC @ 1000 ml/ha were again recorded its superiority during all the observation days. The highest paddy yield was obtained from the treatment with Prochloraz 45% EC @ 1250 ml/ha i.e. 48.86 q/ha and 49.60 q/ha during first and second season, respectively. Minimum paddy yield i.e. 34.41 q/ha and 35.90 q/ha were recorded on untreated control treatment during first and second season, respectively.

Blast, Disease, Paddy, Prochloraz 45% EC and Yield

The foliar application of Prochloraz 45% EC @ 1000-1250 ml/ha were effective in control of blast disease incidence during both the seasons tested and resulting higher yield of rice. Prochloraz 45% EC @ 1000 ml/ha and Prochloraz 45% EC @ 1250 ml/ha were found on par at all the observation days during both the seasons. There was no any phyto-toxicity symptoms were noticed at recommended as well as higher doses of Prochloraz 45% EC. Hence, considering the efficacy and economics of fungicide use it can be concluded that Prochloraz 45% EC @ 1000 ml/ha is effective in managing the blast diseases of rice without any harmful effect on crop.

S. B. Gowdar, Sujay Hurali, Narappa G. and Gurunath Raddy (2023). Bioefficacy of Prochloraz 45% EC against Blast Disease in Rice. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(11): 386-389.