Department of Plant Pathology, CSK HPKV, Palampur-176062
National Symposium on Strategic Issues in Plant Pathological Research held at Department of Plant Pathology, CSK HP Krishi Vishvavidayalaya, Palampur on November 24–25, 2011
Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum truncatum is one of the most important seed-borne fungal pathogens of horse gram. The disease causes a significant reduction of seed germination, seed quality thereby limiting its potential yield. Pollution problems in the environment and the toxic effect of synthetic chemicals on non target organisms have promoted investigations on exploiting biological control agents and biopesticides as components of disease control. Antagonistic activity of bioagents viz., Trichoderma viride-H (Hydrabad strain), T. harzianum-H (Hydrabad strain) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (TNAU strain) against C. truncatum was tested using dual-culture technique. All the three bio-control agents showed antagonistic activity under in vitro conditions by inhibition of mycelial growth of the pathogen. Maximum inhibition of mycelial growth was observed with T. viride-H (58.81%) followed by P. fluorescens-TNAU (46.03%) and T. harzianum-H (35.47%). In vitro evaluation of neem based biopesticides was carried out by poisoned food technique. For this three neem based biopesticides viz., Neemban, Neembenicide and Achook were tested at 0.05, 0.1 and 0.5 per cent concentrations for inhibitory activity on mycelial growth. All biopesticides were found significantly effective against the C. truncatum. However, Achook was found most effective and resulted in maximum inhibition of 52.34, 57.03 and 66.40 per cent followed by Neembenicide which showed 29.66, 45.29 and 59.37 per cent inhibition at 0.05, 0.1 and 0.5 per cent concentrations, respectively. Minimum inhibition was recorded in Neemban 25.78, 41.40 and 57.01 per cent at 0.05, 0.1 and 0.5 per cent concentrations, respectively.
