Efficacy of Nativo 75 Wg against Blister Blight in Tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze]

Seven fungicidal treatments viz. Nativo (trifloxystrobin 25% + tebuconazole 50%) 75 WG at 75, 100 and 125 g/ha, Contaf (hexaconazole) 5 EC + Calixin (tridemorph) 80 EC at 100 + 90 ml/ha, trifloxystrobin 50 WG at 625 g/ha, Folicur (tebuconazole) 250 EW at 250 ml/ha and untreated control were evaluated during 2010 and 2011 at Palampur against blister blight in tea (Exobasidium vexans). The two years pooled data showed that the test fungicide Nativo 75 WG at 125 g/ha was effective against blister blight to yield 60.0% control. This was statistically significant to its constituents Folicur 250 EW and trifloxystrobin 50 WG at recommended doses. Folicur 250 EW at 250 ml/ha yielded 50.3% disease control whereas, trifloxystrobin 50 WG at 625 g/ha resulted in 37.0% disease control. Folicur 250 EW at 250 ml/ha was statistically at par with Contaf 5 EC + Calixin 80 EC at 100 + 90 g/ha to yield 47.4% disease control. No chlorosis, necrosis and epinasty were observed on juvenile pluckable shoots even at higher concentrations of the test fungicide. Hence, Nativo 75 WG at 125 g/ha was recommended against blister blight of tea.