Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography
Open Access

Abstract

Soil-borne pathogens are responsible for a number of chili diseases, including root rot, blight, fruit rot and damping off is mainly controlled by using chemical fungicides, but chemical fungicides have got some adverse effect on the environment as well as human beings. Soil samples were collected from chili growing areas of the Punjab and pathogens were isolated on corn meal agar medium (CMA). Fungal pathogens such as Phytophthora and Pythium species were identified on a morphological basis by using taxonomic keys available in the literature. Selected fungal isolates showing typical morphological characteristics of Phytophthora and Pythium species were further verified by amplification of ITS region and TEF1-�± gene. Keeping this in mind an experiment was conducted to test the efficacy of four bio-control agents (Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma harzianum, Pseudomonas fluorescence, and Bacillus substilis) in controlling root rot of chili under field and in in vitro condition. These antifungal compounds were applied 3 times at 7 days interval after the first appearance of the disease in the field. Among the bio control agents T. viride was found highly effective in percent disease reduction (52.39%) of disease over control treatment. The root length (35 cm) and weight (26 g) was also highest in this treatment compared to control treatment. This was followed by treatment T2 i.e. where per cent incidence was (19.10%) respectively, with a 38.97% reduction of disease over control. It was followed by T. harzianum where percent incidence and was (22.90%) respectively, with a 26.30% reduction of disease over control. The efficacy of these bio-control agents under in vitro conditions was evaluated, T. harzianum and T. viride showed maximum inhibition of fungal radial growth. Therefore, these microbial bio-control agents can be used for managing the early blight of potato.

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