EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT CARRIER MATERIALS ON VIABILITY AND RESISTANCE INDUCTION POTENTIAL OF PENICILLIUM OXALICUM

Abstract

Preparation of inoculum of biocontrol species in the most suitable carrier material is imperative to get full benefit from its resistance induction potential. Present study focuses upon the evaluation of supportive behavior of carrier materials towards Penicillium oxalicum Currie & Thom in controlling Alternaria leaf spots of tomato caused by Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl. Inoculum of resistance inducer species was prepared in five different carrier materials namely talc, bentonite, sand, saw dust and Bhagaas; and incubated at room temperature for 0, 10, 20…80 days. Then soil applications of all those treatments under the field conditions revealed that Bhagaas based inducer inoculum with no incubation period controlled fungal disease most efficiently. Furthermore, evaluation of agro-economic aspects of tomato plants also proved Bhagaas as the best carrier material by which high yield and maximum vigor index was achieved. Second most efficient carrier was saw dust followed by talc, sand and bentonite, respectively. Present study concludes that inoculum of P. oxalicum should be prepared using Bhagaas as cerrier material.