Evaluation of Fungicides, Soil Amendment Practices and Bioagents against Fusarium solani-Causal Agent of Wilt Disease in Chilli

Chilli is affected by the wilt disease caused by Fusarium solani, under irrigated conditions. In absence of resistant cultivars, the disease needs to be controlled by management practices. In vitro evaluation of six fungicides by Poisoned Food Technique showed that a combination of carbendazim+mancozeb was effective in inhibiting mycelial growth (93.6%), followed by Carbendazim alone (92.4%). In vivo soil drench using the same fungicides proved effective in controlling the pathogen. Integration of different treatments, including seedling dip, with Carbendazim, addition of vermicompost, drenching with fungicide, and application of Trichoderma viride was found to be effective in managing the disease, in comparison to individual treatments

Effect of Various Plant Extracts on Dry Root Rot of Chillies Caused by Sclerotium rolfsii

Eight different plant extracts were evaluated in vitro against Sclerotium rolfsii causing dry root rot in chillies. Among these, leaf extract of neem (Azadirachta indica) caused maximum inhibition of mycelial growth (80.74%), followed by periwinkle Vinca rosea (78.8%) and bottlebrush (Callistemon, 74.8%) respectively. Sclerotial production was inhibited to an extent of 11% and the inhibition caused was maximum with neem extract, followed by Polyalthia longifolia and V. rosea extracts. Though sclerotial germination was inhibited by 30% to 95% in various treatments, the most effective treatment was that of neem leaf extract (95%), followed by ginger extract (92%)

Compatibility of Biocontrol Agent Trichoderma viride with Various Pesticides

Compatibility of Trichoderma viride with 25 pesticides was evaluated in vitro. Among six seed-treatment chemicals tested, T. viride showed a high compatibility with the insecticide Imidacloprid (7.6cm mycelial growth), followed by Mancozeb (6.3cm) and Tebuconazole (3.7cm). Contact fungicides, viz., Pencycuron and Propineb were found to be fully compatible with T. viride. Among the 10 herbicides also tested, the fungus was highly compatible with Imazathafir (9.0cm) followed by 2,4-D Sodium salt (8.9cm) and Oxyfluoforen (6.5cm) while being totally incompatible with systemic fungicides like Carbendazim, Hexaconazole, Tebuconazole and Propiconazole