CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT OF FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM F.SP MELONGENAE

Abstract

Fusarium wilt is a serious threat to vegetable crops especially eggplant. Current study was designed to evaluate four systemic fungicides (Topsin-M, Difenoconazole, Alliete and Nativo), and Bacillus subtilis in laboratory and under greenhouse conditions. For this purpose poison food technique was applied in laboratory and soil was drenched by chemicals under greenhouse. The results of in-vitro study revealed that Topsin -M inhibited the growth of pathogen by 76.66% followed by Difenoconazole 67.50% and Alliete 53.50% at 800ppm after 9 days at 25°C. While the Nativo was the least effective fungicide with 42.40% efficiency as compare to control. Furthermore foliar applications of Topsin-M (0.05%, 0.10% and 0.20%) were evaluated under greenhouse conditions. The results of greenhouse investigations showed Topsin-M with 0.1% concentration was significantly effective (55.35%) in reducing the disease incidence. The study was further extended to evaluate Bacillus subtilis, which caused 52.50% reduction in mycelial growth of F. oxysporum f.sp melongenae under dual culture technique. The antagonistic effect was further evaluated to control the disease incidence under greenhouse conditions where it caused 72% reduction in disease incidence over control. Although efficacy of Bacillus subtilis was low under lab conditions but it was higher in green house studies when applied in soil. This work represented the first report of antagonistic potential of Bacillus subtilis against F. oxysporum f.sp malongenae and suggested to evaluate against other diseases also.