Comparative In vitro Assessment of Fungicides for Managing Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici in Chilli

Chilli wilt disease, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici, significantly threatens chili cultivation, impacting yield and quality. This study aimed to evaluate the fungi-toxic effects of various fungicides against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici under in vitro conditions. Eight different fungicides viz., Tebuconazole 6.7 % + Captan 26.9 % w/w SC, Thiophenate Methyl 70% WP, Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% WP, Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25% WG, Carbendazim 50% WP, Pyraclostrobin 20% WG, Chlorothalonil 75% WP and Azoxystrobin 18.2%+ Difenoconazole 11.4% SC were tested at a concentration of 500 ppm and 1000 ppm using the Poison food technique. The experiment was designed using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and conducted at the Department of Plant Pathology, Dr. Sharadchandra Pawar College of Agriculture, Baramati, during the academic year 2023-24. All fungicides significantly (P < 0.01) inhibited the mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. capsici, with Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% WP showing the highest efficacy, followed by Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25% WG and Tebuconazole 6.7 % + Captan 26.9 % w/w SC across both concentrations. This study suggests that the inhibition of pathogen growth increased with higher fungicide concentrations.