Management of Root Rot of Sage, Salvia officinalis Caused by Fusarium solani and Rhizocfonia solani

Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) is an important aromatic and medicinal plant. The crop suffers from root rot/wilt and crown rot diseases caused by fungi viz., Fusarium, Rhizoctonia and Phytophthora respectively. Among these, root rot of sage caused by Fusarium solani and Rhizoctonia solani are serious pathogens that leads to complete destruction of crop. An attempt was made to manage these pathogens in glasshouse and field conditions by using different fungicides, microbial antagonists, botanicals and organic amendments. Among the eight different fungicides tested in vitro mancozeb and carbendazim at all the concentrations completely inhibited the F. solani and R. solani where as propiconazole was effective only against R. solani at all concentrations tested. Baycor was found least effective against both the pathogens. Out of seven biocontrol agents tested in dual culture, Trichoderma viride and T. virens gave cent per cent inhibition of both the pathogens followed by T. harzianum and T. hamatum. Maximum inhibition of mycelial growth of both the pathogens was observed in 10 per cent garlic bulb extract and neem leaf extract. Tulsi leaf extract and pongamia leaf extracts were found effective in inhibiting F. solani. Among the five organic amendments at different levels tested in green house under pot culture against F. solani, neem cake was found effective in reducing wilt incidence up to 18.8 and 31.3 per cent at 5 and 2 per cent, respectively. Management of sage root rot with fungicides, biocontrol agents, organic amendments and botanicals under field conditions showed that application of carbendazim (0.1%) mancozeb (0.2%) and neem cake followed by garlic bulb extract have effectively controlled the disease incidence. However, carbendazim treated plots were found highly effective in managing the disease of sage.