African Journal of Crop Protection and Rural Sociology ISSN: Vol. 2 (1), pp. 054-056, September, 2014. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals Full Length Research Paper Bio-efficacy of triticonazole 8%+pyraclostrobin 4% FS, pyraclostrobin 20% FS,triticonazole 2.5 % against loose smut of wheat D P Singh 1 , M S Saharan 2 , Rajan Selvakumar 3 , A K Sharma 4 and Indu Sharma 5 1,2,3,5 Directorate of Wheat Research, Post Box No. 158, Karnal (Haryana) 132 001 India. 4 NBAIM, Kushmaur, Mau Nath Bhanjan, U. P. 275 101 India. Accepted 13, March 2014. The field trials were conducted to evaluate the bio efficacy of new fungicide Triticonazole 8%+ Pyraclostrobin 4% FS (Insure Perform 12% FS) @ 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 ml per kg of seed against loose smut of wheat (Triticum aestivum) caused by Ustilago tritici by taking infected seeds during 2011-12 and 2012-13 crop seasons at Karnal, India in comparison with recommended fungicide Tebuconazole 2% DS. The test fungicide,Triticonazole 8%+ Pyraclostrobin 4% FS (Insure Perform 12% FS) was highly effective in controlling the disease and gave more than 95% control that was at par with Tebuconazole @ 1.0 g per kg of seed. It may therefore be used as an alternative to already recommended fungicides for the management of loose smut of wheat. Keywords: Wheat Triticum aestivum, Loose smut, Ustilago tritici, Fungicides, Control, Triticonazole, Pyraclostrobin. INTRODUCTION Loose smut of wheat caused by Ustilago tritici (Pers.) Rostr. is one of the major diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori and Pao) in northern India, causing on an average, 1-5 per cent yield losses every year (Joshi et al., 1988). The entire inflorescence, except the rachis, is replaced by masses of black teliospores and the losses due to loose smut are directly correlated to the smutted ears. The disease is internally seed borne. The mycelium remains dormant in the embryo, and developing kernels are replaced by black teliospores. No seeds develop in infected ear heads. The disease is spread by windblown teliospores. Most of the popular cultivars of wheat popular in northern India lack resistance to loose smut (Sharma et al., 2012). Looking at these facts, the use of pre sowing fungicidal seed treatment therefore, is only viable anda popular method for its effectivemanagement. The systemic fungicides like carboxin (Vitavax 75 WP), carbendazim (Bavistin 50 WP) and tebuconazole (Raxil 2 DS) were recommended in past decades (Goel et al., 2001; Maude and Shuring, 2008). _____________ Corresponding author E-mail: dpkarnal@yahoo.com New molecules and formulations are however, required to bring down the cost of treatment as well as manage buildup of resistance against these, in pathogen. Keeping in view of the above objective, newer molecules and formulations were tested against loose smut of wheat during the experiments. MATERIALS AND METHODS The field trials were conducted during 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 crop seasons at Karnal (Haryana) by taking a disease susceptible variety ‘WH 147’. The seeds were inoculated before anthesis withthe spores of U. triticiusing ‘go go’ method (Joshi et al.,1988) during 2010-2011 and 2011-12 crop seasons for use in experiments during preceding years, respectively. These seeds weretreated 24 h before sowing using slurry treatment method with new formulation, Triticonazole 8%+ Pyraclostrobin 4% FS (Insure Perform 12% FS) @ 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 ml per kg, Pyraclostrobin (20% FS) @ 0.75 ml, Triticonazole (2.5 %) @ 2.00 ml per kg of seed along with check fungicide, Tebuconazole (2% DS) @1.00 g per kg. The untreated seeds served as check. Theexperimentswere laid out in randomized block design, with three replications. Each