Vol. 12, Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
Vigneshwaran K, K Rajamohan, P Sivasakthivelan and NH Sankara Reddy

Abstract:
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) stands as a principal spice crop in India, with its economic significance primarily tied to the rhizome, a subterranean stem, utilized for diverse applications. However, the emergence of rhizome rot, a destructive ailment affecting turmeric crops, has led to substantial yield losses, courtesy of the soil-borne pathogen Pythium aphanidermatum. In this context, Trichoderma, recognized as a potent bio-agent, has gained widespread utilization for managing soil-borne diseases. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of T. asperellum against P. aphanidermatum under in vitro conditions. Ten isolates of T. asperellum, designated as Ta1 to Ta10, were subjected to evaluation. Among these isolates, Ta5 demonstrated the highest degree of mycelial inhibition, recording a substantial Percent reduction over the control (73.01%). Following closely, Ta6 exhibited a mycelial growth inhibition of 68.40%, while Ta8 demonstrated the least inhibition at 51.46%. Notably, the poison food technique at a 30% concentration yielded the highest percentage of inhibition, surpassing both 20% and 10% concentrations, respectively.