Evaluating the physiological effect of strobilurin-based fungicide (Opera 183 g/L SE) against Sclerotium rolfsii and Aspergillus niger pathogens of Arachis hypogaea L.

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of fungicide Opera 183 g/L SE on groundnut crop (either as seed or foliar treatment) to control damages and losses incurred especially by the soil borne pathogens Sclerotium rolfsii and Aspergillus niger. The results revealed that 0.15% Opera-treated seeds showed early germination, high percentage of germination, less mortality rate in S. rolfsii and A. niger-infested soil. Enhanced activities of defence-related enzymes, protein, carbohydrate and chlorophyll content up to 2–4 d were observed in Opera-treated plants as compared with untreated plants. Moreover, the application of Opera had a positive effect on yield up to 22%, green fodder at the time of harvest and no disease incidence. From the present study, it is recommended that application of Opera at 750 ml/hectare in the form of foliar treatment to groundnut plants could help in inducing resistance towards opportunistic pathogens and also could enhance the yield.

Keywords:

• Groundnut
• Opera
• plant–pathogen interaction
• foliar application
• induced resistance

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr Giftson J Senapathy, C. G. Bhakta Institute of Biotechnology, Uka Tarsardia University, Bardoli, for reading the final draft of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The research presented was funded by BASF India Limited, Navi Mumbai, India.