Comparative Bio-efficacy of Novel Fungicides against Cercospora Leaf Spot Disease of Orphan Legume: Moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia) in Arid Regions

Cercospora leaf spot, a fungal disease caused by Cercospora canescens Ellis and Martin, that occurs frequently and is a more prevalent and destructive disease, causes huge losses to crop production in Mothbean (Vigna aconitifolia) growing region. The experiments were conducted to investigate the bio-efficacy of fungicides against cercospora leaf spot disease of mothbean during Kharif, 2020 and 2021. Collective findings of the two subsequent years (2020 & 2021) of investigation indicated that the minimum percent disease intensity (7.6%) of cercospora leaf spot caused by C. canescens Ellis and Martin, was recorded in two foliar sprays with pyraclostrobin 133 g/l + epoxiconazole 50 g/l SE @ 1.5 ml/l along with maximum seed yield (438 kg/ha), Rs. 10459 net return, and a 1.76 benefit-cost ratio. To a great extent, difenoconazole 25% EC @ 0.5 ml/l also reduced the disease menace and was found to be the second-best-performing fungicide against the targeted disease in mothbean. The findings indicated that after the 10th day of the second spray, 9.4 percent disease intensity and 414 kg/h seed yield with Rs. 9407 net return and a 1.69 benefit-cost ratio were recorded in the difenoconazole 25% EC @ 0.5 ml/l treatment. Absorbingly, the maximum cercospora leaf spot (31.0%) was recorded in the control along with minimum (260 kg/h) seed yield, Rs. 2930 net return, and 1.25 benefit- cost ratio. Therefore, the application of pyraclostrobin 133 g/l + epoxiconazole 50 g/l SE @ 1.5 ml/l is most feasible treatment for the management of cercospora leaf spot (C. canescens) perils in mothbean crop.