Role of Systemic Fungicide Metalaxyl Mancozeb in Management of Koleroga (Phytophthora meadii Mc Rae) of Arecanut (Areca catechu L.) in Central Western Ghats of Karnataka

Arecanut (Areca catechu L.) an economically important plantation crop in Central Western Ghats of Karnataka is severely affected by Koleroga/ Mahali (Phytophthora meadii Mc Rae). Under congenial environmental conditions during monsoon, the disease become severe and leads to dropping of young buttons, rotting of dropped nuts, affected trees left without management leads to rotting of crown and in due course end up in death of the tree. By regular practice of 1 per cent Bordeaux mixture application to the bunches after the appearance of the disease does not give satisfactory control. The present investigation revealed that arecanut bunches treated with systemic fungicides viz., metalaxyl mancozeb 72 WP @ 2 gl^-1 as spray for twice showed effective reduction of the disease and increase in the yield.