Qualitative and ecological impact of fungicide treatments for the management of aerial blight in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)

Aerial blight (RAB) is an important disease of soybean in the warm and humid regions of the world. This study analyses the impact of the different new generation fungicides and biocontrol agents used for the management of the disease on the qualitative parameters and to test the presence of their residues in the harvested soybean seeds. Results revealed that plots treated with strobilurin fungicides viz., azoxystrobin and pyraclostrobin had enhanced oil and protein content, respectively. Among the bio-agents, Trichoderma harzianum treated plots recorded the highest oil content (20.50%); whereas the protein content was maximum in Pseudomonas fluorescens treated plots (37.77%). All the fungicides, except azoxystrobin (0.0071 ppm) and mycobutanil (0.21 ppm), was found to have their residue below the detection level and were safe for consumptions. Hence, these fungicides are safe from the qualitative and ecological point of view and can be recommended for the management of the Rhizoctonia aerial blight of soybean.