Prospecting of Bioagents and Screening of Varieties against Anthracnose of Green Gram

Abstract

Aims: Anthracnose poses a significant threat to green gram cultivation in India. This study focused on evaluating various bioagents and cultivars efficacy in combating Collectotrichum lindemuthianum through in vitro bioassays and glasshouse investigations. Study Design:  Dual culture technique and screening of varieties Place and Duration of Study: The laboratory studies were conducted in the Department of Plant Pathology, N. M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, India during 2020–2021. Methodology: The dual culture method was employed to gauge the potency of biocontrol agents, while variety screening helped to identify resistant and susceptible green gram varieties against C. lindemuthianum. Results: In vitro assessments revealed that among the five biocontrol agents tested, Trichoderma virens (87.63%) and T. viride (85.41%) exhibited significant suppression of mycelial growth compared to the untreated control. However, in greenhouse pot culture experiments involving eight different genotypes, none were found to be immune to green gram anthracnose. Nevertheless, Pusa 1431, KM-2328, TARM-18, and GM 6 exhibited a resistant response against anthracnose, while BPMR-145 and Vaibhav proved susceptible to the disease. Conclusion: Biocontrol agents are cost-effective and safe for disease management, while integrating resistant varieties is a solid strategy. These high-yielding, environmentally safe, and economically viable methods benefit farmers. Recognizing resistant genotypes is crucial for breeding disease-resistant varieties, as they limit field spread and reduce conidia production of C. lindemuthianum causing green gram anthracnose.