Efficacy of Different Bio-agents and Organic Amendments against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici in vitro
Prajapati, J.A. *
Department of Plant Pathology, C.P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar - 385 506, Gujarat, India.
Meena, R.L.
Department of Plant Pathology, C.P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar - 385 506, Gujarat, India.
Patel, P.S.
Department of Plant Pathology, C.P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar - 385 506, Gujarat, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: With an objective to find out the efficacy of different bio-agents and organic amendments against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici in vitro condition. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici is a major soil- borne fungal pathogen causing wilt in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.), leading to significant yield losses worldwide.
Study Design: CRD (Completely Randomized Design) and FCRD (Factorial Completely Randomized Design).
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Plant Pathology, C. P. College of Agriculture, SDAU, Sardarkrushinagar during kharif, 2023-24.
Methodology: This study evaluated the in vitro efficacy of different bio-agents Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma harzianum, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis against F. oxysporum f. sp. capsici. Dual culture assays were conducted to assess percent inhibition of mycelial growth as well as efficacy of different organic amendments viz. mustard cake, neem cake, karanj cake, castor cake, cotton cake, poultry manure were tested in vitro by using poisoned food technique against F. oxysporum f. sp. capsici.
Results: Results indicated that all bio-agents significantly reduced mycelial growth compared to the control. Trichoderma harzianum showed the highest inhibition (79.72%), followed by Trichoderma viride (72.77%), Bacillus subtilis (50.00%) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (40.55%). Among six organic amendments, the highest inhibitory effect was recorded with neem cake at 5 and 10 per cent concentrations with growth inhibition of 46.15 and 50.09, respectively. The next effective amendment was cotton cake which recorded 43.00 and 44.84 per cent radial growth inhibition at 5 and 10 per cent concentrations, respectively. The mustard cake showed the lowest effectiveness in restricting mycelial growth, achieving only 33.18 and 35.29 percent at 5 and 10 percent concentrations, respectively. Among the others, the next highest radial growth inhibition was noted in karanj cake with 41.88 and 45.18 percent at 5 and 10 percent concentrations, respectively. The poultry waste showed 38.54 and 44.16 percent radial growth inhibition at concentrations of 5 and 10 percent, respectively, followed by castor cake with 35.01 and 37.68 at 5 and 10 percent concentrations, respectively. The results indicate that bio-control agents and organic amendments may serve as effective integrated disease management strategies against F. oxysporum f. sp. capsici in chilli.
Conclusion: Among the evaluated antagonists, Trichoderma harzianum proved most effective, showing 79.72% growth inhibition, followed by T. viride (72.77%), while bacterial bio-agents exhibited comparatively lower efficacy. Among six organic amendments, the highest mean growth inhibition of 48.12 per cent was recorded with neem cake followed by cotton cake (43.92%).
Keywords: Chilli, wilt, bio-agents, organic amendments