Integrated management of Ramularia blight (Ramularia foeniculi ) in fennel

Ramularia blight, caused by Ramularia foeniculi Sybille’s a highly destructive fennel disease and may cause complete failure of the crop. The use of chemicals especially mancozeb to manage Ramularia blight increases the load of residues in seed and reduces the export and market price. Removal of lower yellow leaves would not only help in reducing the load of Ramularia pathogen but, also increase the aeration in fennel crop. To manage this disease, field trial was conducted for three consecutive kharif seasons (2017-18, 2018-19 & 2019-20) with agronomical practices i.e. removal of lower yellow leaves at different stages and different spraying schedules of chlorothalonil 75WP. Removal of lower yellow leaves at 50 % flowering stage and grain filling stage with two sprays of chlorothalonil 75WP @ 0.15% (20 g/ 10 lit. water) first spray at just appearance of disease and second spray at15 days after first spray was found effective not only in terms of management of disease (10.91 % disease incidence), yield (2078 kg/ha) and quality aspects but also reduced the load of fungicide on seed which promote the export. Thus, limited use (2 sprays) of chlorothalonil with the removal of lower yellow leaves helps to meet out the quality standards for export promotion with respect to residual limits in the said commodity