Department of Plant Pathology, Central Agricultural Unviersity, Imphal-795004
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
Stem rot of rice caused by Sclerotium oryzae is becoming a serious problem in almost all the rice varieties in Manipur. Two isolates of Sclerotium oryzae Catt. were consistently found to be associated with stem rot of rice. Under in vitro conditions, four biocontrol agents namely Trichoderma harzianum, T. hamatum,. T. viride and Penicillium glabrum were tested on the growth and sclerotia formation of the fungal isolates. T. harzianum and T. hamatum showed the maximum antagonistic properties. Penicillium glabrum could not inhibit the growth of the isolates but formed an inhibition zone of 5mm and 1cm in isolate1 and isolate2. Seven fungicides namely Tricyclazole, Thiophanatemethyl, Propiconazole, Hexaconazole, Carbendazim, each at the rate of 0.1 per cent and Mancozeb (0.2 per cent) completely inhibited the growth of the fungal isolates followed by Copper oxychloride (0.2 per cent). However, the two isolates failed to form sclerotia in all the fungicides evaluated. Under in vivo conditions, significant reduction in disease incidence and increase in yield (5.24t/ha) of rice grains was observed in plots sprayed with Tricyclazole (0.1per cent) followed by foliar spray with Penicillium glabrum(4.82t/ha) and Trichoderma harzianum (4.69t/ha).
