1Department of Plant Protection, Palli-Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan 731 236, India
2Department of Plant Pathology, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur 742 252, India
*Email: bholanath.ppvb@gmail.com
Online published on 15 January, 2014.
Incidence of Foot rot disease of Elephant foot yam [Amorphophallus campanulatus Blume, syn: A. paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson] caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. is common in West Bengal. Occasionally it causes severe damage of the crop. When Plaster of Paris used on the diseased tissue in standing crop, it showed strong adverse effect on mycelial growth and survival of sclerotia. White mycelia and sclerotia produced on disease tissue lost their viability. Plant with small lesion grew normally indicating that the disease was checked without causing any phytotoxic effect. Plaster of Paris of commercial grade (CaSO4.½ H2O), available in synthetic bag in hardware shop. In laboratory test on viability of sclerotia, Plaster of Paris showed similar adverse effect. Eight fungicides (Indofil M-45, Bavistin, Blitox, Vitavax Power, Kavach, Curzet, Krilaxyl MZ) used in this test reduced sclerotial germination. Vitavax Power (Carboxin 37.5% + Thiram 37.5% WP) totally inhibited sclerotial germination. Kavach (Chlorothalonil 75%) and Krilaxyl MZ (Metalaxyl 8% + Mancozeb 64%) reduced germination upto 95%. Application of Plaster of Paris at three different doses at the base of the plant (2.0, 5.0 and 10.0 grams/plant) did not cause any phytotoxic symptoms like necrosis, epinasty, hyponasty, wilting, leaf tip injury, leaf surface injury, vein clearing, rotting at collar region on six different crops i.e. elephant foot yam, groundnut, brinjal, chilli, basella and radish. Hence, it may be incorporated in Integrated Disease Management (IDM) programme.
Plaster of Paris of commercial grade and some fungicides were evaluated against Sclerotium rolfsii causing Foot rot of elephant foot yam.
Plaster of Paris showed strong adverse effect on mycelial growth and survival of sclerotia under field condition without producing phytotoxicity.
In laboratory test, Plaster of Paris and Vitavax Power totally inhibited sclerotial germination.
Low cost Plaster of Paris is available in powder form for plastering/interior decoration of buildings can be incorporated in Integrated Disease Management programme
Foot rot, elephant foot yam, Plaster of Paris, Sclerotium rolfsii
