Evaluation of Antagonistic Potential of Bio-Control Agents and Organic Inputs for The Management of Bean Anthracnose

Abstract

Management of bean anthracnose remains a great challenge for the farmers owing to variable nature of the pathogen. Generally, disease control involves the use of chemical fungicides but keeping in view their harmful effects on environment, alternative approaches like use of natural antagonists and organic formulations are being explored to mitigate the pollution problem. In the present study, bio-control agents viz., T. harzianum (TH-11), T. harzianum (TH-5), T. koningii (DMA-8), T. koningii (JMA-11), T. viride, Pseudomonas fluorescens and bioformulations namely, Jeevamrit, Bijamrit, Tamerlassi, Vermiwash, Cow urine and Eupatorium extract were evaluated against C. lindemuthianum under in vitro and in vivo conditions. In vitro assessment of the biocontrol agents revealed maximum mycelial growth inhibition by T. koningii (DMA-8) (53.69%) whereas among bioformulations, Jeevamrit was observed to be the most effective, resulting in complete mycelial growth inhibition of the pathogen at 4, 6, 8 and 10 per cent concentrations. Similarly, under pot culture conditions in greenhouse, Jeevamrit showed maximum control of seed borne infection (75.60 %) followed by cow urine (68.25%), while artificially inoculated seeds treated with Jeevamrit and cow urine also showed up to 75.34 and 67.13 % disease control, respectively.