Biological control of stem bleeding disease caused by Thielaviopsis paradoxa in coconut

Stem bleeding disease caused by Thielaviopsis paradoxa is also one of the important diseases in coconut in Andhra Pradesh. Bio efficacy of native fungal and bacterial bioagents on stem bleeding pathogen Thielaviopsis paradoxa under in vitro conditions revealed that Trichoderma asperellum [Ambajipeta] was significantly superior with 79.17% growth inhibition followed by T. reesei [Ambajipeta] with 78.33%. Field evaluation of bio-control agents against Stem bleeding disease in coconut indicated that the cake application of T. harzianum and T. reesei formulation completely brought down the disease index by 100 per cent within 50 days of cake application. Paste application of bioagents viz., T. harzianum, T. reesei, and chemical fungicide copper oxychloride application also substantially reduced the disease.