Journal of Applied Horticulture. 2003: 5(1): 43-44

Ber germplasm screening and management of black leaf spot disease under Eastern U.P. conditions

Pradeep Kumar; Singh, H K; Saxena, R P

Department of Horticulture, N.D. University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad, India.

Forty ber (Zizyphus mauritiana [Ziziphus mauritiana]) accessions, grown in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, were screened against black leaf spot disease (caused by Isariopsis indica var. ziziphi) during 1997-98 to 1999-2000 to determine the resistant source(s) for crop improvement. Tikri during 1997-98 and 1999-2000; Seedless during 1998-99; and ZG-3 during 1999-2000 were found immune. Guli, Seedless and Ber selection-5 during 1997-98; Guli, Darackhi-2, Ber selection-2, 3, 4 and 5 during 1998-99; and Jalandher, Kali, Bagwadi, Banarasi Peondi, Illaichi, Villaiti, Sanour-3, Chhohara, Katha, Seedless, Darakhi-2 and Ber selection-5 during 1999-2000 were found resistant. Other accessions showed moderately susceptible to susceptible reaction against the disease. An experiment on the management of the disease was conducted with ber cv. Gola (a susceptible cultivar). Single spraying of fungicides (0.1% carbendazim, 0.2% mancozeb and 0.2% copper oxychloride) and 3.0% neem [Azadirachta indica] powder (Nimuri) at 10 litre solution per plant was performed on 15 November 1999 after the initiation of the disease under field conditions. Single spraying of 0.1% carbendazim at 10 litres per plant was the most effective in the management of the disease, which showed 77.21% disease control, followed by 0.2% mancozeb (54.78%), 3.0% neem powder (54.02%) and 0.2% copper oxychloride (51.37%).