Effectiveness of botanicals, inorganic salts and fungicide against Fusarium wilt of muskmelon under hot arid region of Rajasthan

Investigation was undertaken to screen out the extract of botanicals viz., Neem leaf, Tumba fruit, NSKE and Aak leaf and inorganic salts against Fusarium wilt of muskmelon. This disease caused by Fusarium acuminatum is a major fungal disease causing serious losses to muskmelon growing areas in Rajasthan. The field trials were carried out on muskmelon susceptible variety ‘RM-50’ against Fusarium wilt during summer season of 2019 and 2020 at this Institute. Among 11 treatments, carbendazim (0.1%) was found the most effective treatment for management of Fusarium wilt with minimum disease incidence (PDI) of 15.83% and 60.84% disease reduction, followed by neem leaf extract @ 10% with disease incidence of 21.89% and 45.84% disease reduction. Maximum disease incidence (40.42% PDI) was found in case of control.