Ortiva Top® Fungicide as an Alternative to Bavistin® Fungicide against Cercospora Leaf Spot of Sugar Beet

This study aimed at validating the combination of azoxystrobin + difenoconazole (Ortiva top®) as an alternative to carbendazim (Bavistin®) against Cercospora leaf spot of sugar beet caused by Cercospora beticola and identifying the lowest effective dosage. Experiments plots were designed as completely randomised blocks and subjected to foliar sprays of azoxystrobin + difenoconazole at three doses of 0.75, 1 and 1.25 L/ha and at the recommended dose of 0.5 kg/ha for carbendazim. The lowest effective dosage for azoxystrobin + difenoconazole fungicide was determined 1 L/ha under field condition. In this study, the optimal dosage of azoxystrobin + difenoconazole fungicide significantly reduced the disease severity (DS) compared with carbendazim fungicide and untreated plots and significantly increased the yield per hectare. Inclusion of the optimal dosage of azoxystrobin + difenoconazole in the cercospora leaf spot management can offer an appropriate alternative to carbendazim even under high inoculum pressure of the pathogen.