STM Article Repository

Biological control of wilt disease of Coleus forskohlii caused by Fusarium oxysporum was attempted with the application of antagonistic agents like Trichoderma harzianum, T. viride, T. reesei, T. lignorum and T. hamatum. The effect of volatile and non-volatile antibiotics of Trichoderma on growth inhibition of the wilt pathogen was studied. T. harzianum showed maximum growth inhibition (86.16%) of the pathogen through mycoparasitism. The volatiles produced by the T. harzianum showed maximum growth inhibition (78.05%) and the non-volatiles produced by the same agent exhibited its excellent and durable antagonism to the growth of the pathogen (100%) under in vitro condition. The degree of inhibition of mycelial growth of the pathogen by different phytoextracts (biocides) such as leafy twigs of tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), leaves of neem (Azadirachta indica), leafy twigs of Cassia tora, Cassia alata, Cassia sofera, leaves of Calotropis procera, leaves of Solanum indicum, leaves of Catharanthus roseus, bulb of garlic (Allium sativum), leaves of Achyranthes aspera, leaves of Andrographis paniculata, rhizome of ginger (Zingiber officinale) was studied. Among all the fungicides, the systemic fungicide Bavistin had shown its superiority in inhibiting vegetative growth of the pathogen which at 0.5% concentration, 100% inhibition was obtained. Integrated application of T. harzianum, neem extract and captan (1:1:1) showed maximum growth inhibition (70.03%) of test pathogen. This recommends the application of eco-friendly strategy of integrated disease management (IDM) for control of wilt disease of Coleus.