Uses of Carbendazim

It comes under benzimidazoles group of fungicides. Benomyl, carbendazim, thiabendazole, funeridazole, mecarbinzid and thiophanate are some fungicides which has been included in the benzimidazoles fungicides. They are very effective against large number of diseases caused by different fungi.

The chemical name of carbendazim is methyl- 2- benzimidazole carbamate (MBC). It comes in whitish grey powder having faint acrid odour.

Most of benzimidazoles are converted at the plant surface to methyl benzimidazole carbamate (MCB, carbendazim), and this compound interferes with nuclear division of sensitive fungi.

It comes in market under different trade names such as, Dhanustin, Bavistin, Mavistin, Derosal, Benfil, Gilzim, Carbestin, Goldstin etc. 

It is soluble in acetic acid and dimethyl formamide. Its solubility is less than 10 ppm in oil, 400 ppm in ethyl alcohol, 300 ppm in actone and 100 ppm in chloroform. In water, its solubility is 28 ppm at pH 4, 8 ppm at pH 7 and 7 ppm at pH 8.

It is very stable compound. It does not decompose at temperature up to 50 degree celcius for a period of 2 years. It decomposes in the presence of alkalies and acids.

It is harmless to bees. The maximum tolerable residue in food stuffs is 18.75, calculated by the Dutch formula. In the Federal Republic of Germany, tolerance from 0.1 ppm to 7 ppm has been fixed on the fruits, vegetable and cereals.

It is a broad spectrum, systemic fungicides and very effective against Fungi imperfecti, Ascomycetes and various Basidiomycetes and not effective against phycomycetes and bacteria. It has been tested on rats and found non phytotoxic to rats.

In addition to disease control, it has beneficial side effects. It stimulates growth, flowering and yield of plants as well as reduction of mite population on the plants sprayed with carbendazim.

The symptoms of some viral diseases have also suppressed by carbendazim e.g. peanut green mosaic virus, uribean leaf crinkle virus, beet western yellow virus and TMV in tobacco. It also reduces the activity of earth worms substantially.

In the spray schedule for apple issued by the state department of horticulture, Himachal Pradesh, India, carbendazim @ 1 gm per litre water has been recommended to control apple scab when sprayed at petal fall/ pea stage. Its spray also controls powdery mildew when spray with 1 gm per 2 litre water (0.05%) and white root rot at 1 gm per litre water (0.1%). Five minutes fruit dip in carbendazim, thiabendazole or benomyl solution @ 500 to 1000 ppm is very effective to control post harvest fruit rot diseases in apple, citrus, grapes, aspergillus & anthracnose in mango and 2 minute dip for banana.

As per spray schedule for peach, plum & apricot by the state department of horticulture, Himachal Pradesh, India, a combination of Dormant oil 4 litre + carbendazim 100 gm at white bud stage helps in management of sanjose scale, lecanium scale and leaf curl disease.

In beans, angular and flowery leaf spots can be controlled with the four sprays of benomyl or cercobin @ 2 – 2.5 gm per litre water (0.2 to 0.25%) at 15 days interval.

Powdery mildew of ber can be controlled with two sprays of carbendazim @ 0.5 – 1 gm per litre water (0.05 – 0.1%) at 10 – 20 days intervals. 8 – 10 minutes dip of ber fruits in 500 ppm suspension of carbendazim is effective against soft rot of ber fruit.

Two to four sprays of 1 gm per litre water (0.1%) benomyl & carbendazim at 10 days interval are effective to control powdery mildew of bitter gourd and leaf spot of bottle gourd respectively, starting at first symptom appearance.

In cabbage seed crop, Black blight disease caused by Mycosphaerella brassicicola can be controlled by five sprays of benomyl at 160 gm per 100 litre water (2 kg per Ha).

Carbendazim 1 gm per litre water (0.1%) is very effective against the following disease:-

• Citrus scab (benomyl spray at dormant stage)
• Cercospora leaf spot of chili & okra 4 – 6 sprays at 14 days interval.
• Cucumber fruit rot 1 min dip in 0.1% benomyl solution.
• Leaf smut in dahlia, 5 – 10 sprays.
• Leaf spot in grapes & 4 – 5 sprays in case of fig.
• Phyllosticta leaf spot in ginger, 1 spray is sufficient.
• Fruit rot in guava, 2 min dip in 1250 ppm suspension.
• Powdery mildew of musk melon & pea, 2 sprays with carbendazim or top sin- M

In mango, powdery mildew can be controlled by spraying 40 gm to 160 gm carbendazim per 100 litre water (0.5 – 2.0 Kg per Ha). 3 -4 sprays at 15 days starting from inflorescence emergence but before flower opening. For phoma blight in mango, six sprays of benomyl @ 160 gm per 100 litre water (2.0 Kg per Ha) at fortnight interval.

 

For cut seed piece decay in potato caused by Fusarium sp., Aspergillus sp., Penecillium sp., Scierotium rilfsii, 15 minute dip in 1 gm benomyl per litre water (0.1%) followed by 48 hours drying in shade. In post harvest tuber rot caused by Aspergillus niger, Fusarium moniliforme, Rhizoctonia solani, 10 minute dip in 1000 ppm to 2000 ppm benomyl solution or 20 minute dip in 6000 ppm of thiabendazole solution especially for Rhizoctonia disease.

 

In strawberry, spray with 80 – 160 gm benomyl in 100 litre of water (1 – 2 kg per Ha.) can be done for anthrocnose crown rot, leaf blight and leaf spot disease.

 

Anthracnose of watermelon, 4 – 5 sprays with topsin – M 70 WP @ 80 gm per 100 litre water (1 kg per ha) at 10 – 14 days interval can be done.

 

Ten minute fruit dip in 2 gm per litre water (0.2%) benomyl or carbendazim suspension is very effective for post harvest fruit rots in tomato.

 

The above article has been prepared from authentic literature resources. The help of some books has been taken during writing this article i.e. Fungicides in Plant Disease Control by Y. L. Nene and P. N. Thapliyal and Plant Pathology by George N. Agrios etc and Spray schedules issued from department of horticulture, Himachal Pradesh, Shimla 171002 at their official website and other authentic material issued from authorized agencies.

If you really found this article worthful, please share and comment below. If you want more articles on any other desired topics related to horticulture, please write in comments, so that it can be prepared for you & all farmer community, from authentic sources.