BIOCONTROL OF RHIZOME ROT OF GINGER

Abstract

Rhizome rot disease caused by pythium aphanidermatum is a serious problem in ginger. As a part of disease management, field evaluation of biocontrol agents was carried out in Pythium-sick soil. Further, the efficacy of these biocontrol agents in combination with soil solarisation was evaluated as a measure of integration. Trichoderma viride, T, harzianum I & II, T. hamatum and Gliocladium virens were the biocontrol agents used and compared with fungicide mancozeb. Two years of field trials showed that the isolate T, harzianum I was efficient in controlling the disease both in solarised and non-solarised plots. The disease incidence was less and the yield was high in both the years. T. hamatum was the second best in both the years. In general, the yield was higher in solarised plots in both the years but significant increase in yield was obtained in the second year only. The weed growth was also suppressed in the solarised plot to an extent of 40%.