Vol. 10, Issue 12 (2021)

Author(s):
Lishma NP and Anita Cherian K

Abstract:
Banana is considered as an important fruit crop in the livelihood of many people in tropical and subtropical countries. However, the banana crop is threatened by Fusarium wilt incited by the pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, a soil borne fungus. The disease has a destructive effect on the crop and causes up to 80 per cent of yield loss. In the present study, an in vitro experiment was conducted for the evaluation of various biocontrol agents and botanicals at lower, recommended and higher doses by poisoned food for control of the pathogen. The biocontrol agents PGPR Mix II, PGPM, Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens showed 100 per cent inhibition of the pathogen. Among the plant extracts used, highest (39.44 %) per cent inhibition of the pathogen was obtained with extract of Myristica fragrans mace followed by Azadirachta indica oil (26.22 %) and Lawsonia inermis leaves (25.33 %). The lowest per cent of inhibition of the pathogen was noticed in the treatment Curcuma caesia (9.33 cm). Biocontrol agents can be effectively used for the management of Fusarium wilt disease in banana.