06-08-2013, 04:57 PM
Combined efficacy of bio-control agents and soil amendments for the management of Fusarium wilt of carnation
ABSTRACT
Amongst various diseases affecting carnation, wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. dianthi is the most serious disease causing huge economic losses to the growers. Therefore, integrated effect of bio-control agents (Trichoderma viride and Bacillus subtilis) and five soil amendments were evaluated on incidence of Fusarium wilt and different growth as well as quality parameters of carnation inside the polyhouse. Treatment combination of drake seed meal and T. viride was found most effective among all the treatments in reducing the incidence of carnation wilt by 85.7 per cent in comparison to control. Application of neem granules + T. viride and drake seed meal + B. subtilis in combination were found next in efficacy in reducing the incidence of carnation wilt by 83.32 and 80.96 per cent, respectively in comparison to control. Treatment combination of drake seed meal + T. viride was also found most effective among all the treatments in improving various growth as well as quality parameters of carnation with an increase of 32.65, 34.37, 35.71 and 31.93 per cent in plant height, number of flowers per plant, stem length and flower size, respectively and also recorded 8.85 and 33.65 per cent less days to 1st flowering and flowering period, respectively in comparison to control. These results infer the integrated management of Fusarium wilt of carnation through soil amendments and bio-control agents.