Evaluation of fungicides, biocontrol agents and botanicals for management of damping-off in cabbage seedlings caused by Fursarium moniliforme sheld

Abstract

The antagonistic effect of 10 fungicides, four biocontrol agents and 10 locally available botanicals in controlling the growth and sporulation of Fusarium moniliforme in vitro were tested. A pot culture experiment was also conducted to study the effect of seed treatment and soil treatment alone or in combination on germination and seedling vigour of cabbage. In vitro evaluation of ten fungicides by poisoned food technique showed that all the fungicides efficiently inhibited complete inhibition of the linear growth of the fungus was observed with Thiophenate methyl, Carbendazim, Mancozeb, Difenconazole, Propiconazole, Hexaconazole, Sixer and Tricyclazole. Sporulation was completely inhibited by all the fungicides evaluated. In dual culture technique of the fungus and biocontrol agents, of the four biocontrol agents evaluated the antagonists, T. hamatum completely overgrew the pathogen, T. harzianum colonized on half of the growth of the pathogen, T. viride remained locked with the fungus at the point of contact and P. citrinum formed inhibition zone with the fungus. Sporulation was completely inhibited by all the four antagonists. Among the ten locally available botanicals tested by poisoned food technique in vitro, garlic extract showed maximum fungitoxic propertyfollowed wild sage (Lantana camara), onion (Allium cepa), neem (Azadirachta indica), goat weed (Ageratum conyzoides) and marigold (Tagetes erecta) . In pot culture experiment, the least disease incidence was recorded in soil treatment with carbendazim (26%) followed by T. harzianum (29%) and P. glabrum (29.7%). However,considering the various drawbacks and hazardous effects resulting from use of chemicals, biocontrol agents and plant extracts can be recommended to use in raising healthy seedlings free from pre- and post-emergence damping-off.