Abstract

The research included in-vitro experiments on the effect of the fungal antagonist (Trichoderma spp.) and fungicide (carbendazim) against BLSB pathogen (Rhizoctonia solani); and greenhouse experiment for the management of BLSB using antagonists (Trichoderma and Pseudomonas) and a fungicide (carbendazim) in different combinations. The in-vitro and greenhouse experiments were done at the plant pathology laboratory and greenhouse of Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan.
Of the isolates of Trichoderma evaluated against the BLSB pathogen in dual culture, the Trichoderma isolated from between healthy and diseased maize plants gave the maximum growth inhibition percent of the pathogen at 24 (19.86±0.52), 48 (51.63±0.40) and 72hours (72.78±1.11). Carbendazim at 10 ppm completely inhibited the growth of both the pathogen and Trichoderma on PDA medium, while at 1 ppm, the growth inhibition of the pathogen was (54.22±0.89) percent and of Trichoderma was (50.22±3.11) percent.
The management experiment in a glasshouse with seven treatments was done in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Carbendazim alone gave the highest disease control (59.73%) with the lowest disease severity (28.67±0.67) and AUDPC per day (803.33±33.33). A combination of treatments alternately with Trichoderma and carbendazim also had a significant effect on reducing disease severity. In a separate experiment, Trichoderma with and without pathogen gave significantly higher shoot length, root length, shoot weight and root weight when compared with untreated control.

Keywords

Antagonist, In-vitro, Inhibition, Severity, Disease control, Trichoderma