07-08-2013, 01:04 PM
Evaluation of Bio-agents against Pythium aphanidermatum causing damping off of chilli
ABSTRACT
Chilli is an important spice crop grown all over the world. The crop suffers from several biotic stresses out of which damping off, caused by Pythium aphanidermatum is an important disease of brinjal. With increased concern about pesticide hazards innovative method of disease control through biocontrol agents has become a popular strategy to manage soil borne diseases. In the present investigation, ten isolates of three fungal biocontrol agents viz. Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma virens were evaluated against Pythium aphanidermatum causing damping off of chilli. All the antagonists, tested against Pythium aphanidermatum showed significant reduction of mycelial growth. Among all the antagonists T7 isolate of Trichoderma virens showed maximum inhibition of the growth of pathogen with 42.33 percent inhibition over control which was followed by T5 isolate of Trichoderma viride.