Evaluation of Biopolymer Based Trichoderma and Actinomycetes Against Wilt and Root Rot Complex of Safflower

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) is an annual oilseed crop grown for its seeds, which produce a high-quality oil used in food, cosmetics and industrial applications. Native to the Mediterranean region, safflower is now cultivated in many parts of the world, including India, where Maharashtra is a significant producer. Wilt disease caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. carthami and root rot disease caused by Macrophomina phaseolina are major diseases of safflower resulting in plant death, reduced seed yield and poor oil quality. Present research focused on biological management of these diseases both in vitro and in vivo. Under in vitro studies mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. carthami was significantly inhibited by bioagents where biopolymer based Trichoderma harzianum showed minimum mean colony diameter (27.00 mm) followed by Trichoderma harzianum (42.30 mm). Similarly mycelial growth of Macrophomina phaseolina was significantly inhibited by Trichoderma harzianum (29.33 mm) and Trichoderma asperellum (30.33 mm) which are at par to each other followed by Trichoderma koningii (34.33 mm) and biopolymer based Trichoderma harzianum (47.50 mm). In field studies seed treatment with biopolymer based Trichoderma @ 10 ml/kg seed + soil application of biopolymer based Trichoderma @ 100 ml/5 lit. water per plot recorded minimum wilt and root rot incidence as compared to other biagents.