Comparative in vitro Efficacy of Bioagents, Botanicals and Fungicides against Chickpea (cicer arietinum L.) wilt Associated Pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri.

Abstract

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a vital pulse crop and one of the most important grain legumes cultivated worldwide across tropical, subtropical and temperate regions; in India, it is a major rabi season crop. Chickpea wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri, is a serious constraint to production, leading to significant yield losses. To assess the comparative efficacy of different management options, in vitro experiments were conducted using bio-agents, botanicals and fungicides. Among the bio-agents, Trichoderma harzianum was the most effective, followed by T. viride, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis. Among the botanicals tested at 5, 7.5 and 10% concentrations, garlic bulb extract exhibited the highest antifungal activity, followed by neem, eucalyptus, tulsi and Lantana. Among the fungicides evaluated at 250, 500 and 1000 ppm concentrations, tebuconazole 50% + trifloxystrobin 25% WG showed maximum inhibition, followed by carbendazim 12% + mancozeb 63% WP, tebuconazole 25.9% EC, propiconazole 25% EC and copper oxychloride 50% WP.