Evaluation of organics, antagonists and carbendazim against Fusarium wilt of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.)

Abstract

In India, pigeonpea [Cajanus Cajan (L.) Millsp.] wilt caused by Fusarium udum is prevalent in all areas it cultivated. Among the major soil borne diseases pigeonpea, the Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium udum is one of the most important diseases and can cause 30-100% loss in grain yield. A pot experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of Trichoderma harzianum, Pseudomonas fluorescens, farm yard manure, spent mushroom substrate of oyster mushroom and the fungicide Carbendazim 50% WP against Fusarium wilt of pigeonpea in terms ofseed germination and disease incidence under artificial inoculation conditions during Kharif 2021. Among the treatments assessed, maximum seed germination (95.83%) was recorded in treatments in which seed were treated with Carbendazim 50% WP or soil amended with the combination of spent mushroom substrate+Trichoderma harzianum or spent mushroom substrate+(Trichoderma harzianum+ Pseudomonas fluorescens) prior to sowing. Maximum reduction in disease incidence (73.81%) of Fusarium wilt over the control was recorded in treatment in which soil was amended with combination of spent mushroom substrate+(Trichoderma harzianum+ Pseudomonas fluorescens). The results revealed that all the treatments applied as prophylactic measure, reduced the Fusarium wilt and increased the seed germination significantly over the unprotected crop.