Effects of Dosage and Application Frequency of Microbial Consortium Mixed with Animal Manure on Bacterial Wilt and Late Blight Diseases of Potato

Abstract

Major constraints in potato production includes bacterial wilt disease (Ralstonia solanacearum) and late blight disease (Phytophthora infestans). To support environmentally-friendly agricultural system, a microbial consortium containing Trichoderma harzianum, Bacillus subtilis and non pathogenic Pseudomonas sp. has been studied for biocontrol plant diseases in horticultural crops. For application, the microbial consortium was mixed with organic matters (10%, v/v). The objective of this research was to obtain dosage and application frequency of microbial consortia mixed with chicken manure for controlling bacterial wilt disease and their effects on airborne disease, late blight disease, in potato. The experimental design used was Randomized complete design with 10 treatments and three replications. The treatments consisted of application of the mixture in planting hole at the dosage of 25, 50 or 100 g solely or in combination with drenching the water suspension of the mixture weekly or every two weeks. The results showed that the dosage and application frequency of the microbial consortia mixed with chicken manure influenced their abilities in suppressing the bacterial wilt disease in potato. The application of the mixture at planting hole with the dosage of 50 g per plant followed by drenching the water suspension of the mixture every week suppressed the bacterial wilt disease by 75.0 - 81.9%.