Leaf blight, a significant threat to maize crops caused by the pathogen Helminthosporium maydis, leads to substantial agricultural losses nationwide. In an effort to mitigate this impact, a study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of various fungicides in combating this affliction. Utilizing the susceptible variety Malaka-16 as a baseline for disease proliferation during the 2022-23 season. Propiconazole was found highly effective with inhibition of mycelial growth of H. maydis.  The investigation revealed that Propiconazole, marketed as Tilt, was the most effective treatment, curtailing disease progression by 79.20%. This was closely followed by Difenoconazole, known commercially as Score, which achieved a 70.40% efficacy rate. Conversely, the fungicides Thiophanate Methyl (Topsin-M) and Copper Oxychloride (Blitox-50) were the least effective, with control rates of 48.8% and 44.70% over the baseline, respectively.

Keywords:     Fungicide, Propiconazole, Maize, Tebuconazole, Maize, Blitox-50, Southern leaf blight