Abstract
The influence of fungicidal spray was assessed on powdery mildew epidemics caused by Erysiphe polygoni D.C. and on yield-attributing characters of mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]. Mildew attack adversely affected the yield-attributing characters of mungbean and exhibited negative significant correlation with pod length (-0.57), pods/plant (-0.74), pod weight (-0.68), 100 seeds weight (-0.69), 100 seeds swell weight (-0.59), and seed germination (-0.71). These characters had direct or indirect effects on grain yield, which was also adversely affected due to mildew attack (-0.89). Powdery mildew was significantly retarded due to the single spray of carbendazim (0.05%) at 30-day-old crop, where the apparent rate of infection (r) was minimum at 0.0095/ unit/day and with low (11.44%) powdery mildew intensity. Other fungicides like tridemorph (0.075%) and penconazole (0.05%) were equally effective against the mildew disease where the disease intensity was less than 20% and the values of r were 0.0134 and 0.039/unit/day respectively, as compared with the control at 0.267/unit/day. Fungicide spray influenced the yield-attributing characters besides controlling the disease. Such effects were more pronounced in carbendazim (0.05%)-treated plots due to its phytotonic nature where pod length (7.59cm), pods/plant (29.75), pod weight (8.16 g), 100 grain weight (3.94 g), and swell weight of 100 seed (9.49 g) were maximum resulting to the highest yield (480 kg/ha) as compared with that of control (224 kg/ha). Spray of carbendazim also improved seed germination (74.5%). Spray of other fungicides like carbendazim with copper oxychloride in 1:1 ratio, tridemorph (0.075%), and penconazole (0.05%) was equally effective against powdery mildew of mungbean. These fungicides also exhibited positive effects on yield-attributing characters of the crop and finally increased yield. These systemic fungicides were more effective in controlling powdery mildew disease of V. radiata in the rainy season compared with wettable sulphur.