In vitro Evaluation of Different Antibiotics, Botanicals and Biocontrol Agents Against Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae

Oily spot/blight disease caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae is one of the major destructive disease of pomegranate (Punnica granantum L.) crop grown in the sate of Maharashtra. In the present study, bio- efficacy of ten botanicals and two bioagents was evaluated in vitro against Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae.All the botanical and bioagents tested were found fungistatic/fungicidal against the test pathogen and significantly inhibited mycelial growth of the test pathogen over untreated control. Neem oil, was found best effective for control of X. axonopodis pv. punicae at all concentration by forming 14.47 per cent inhibition followed by Garlic leaf extract, Tulasi leaf extract, Ginger extract, Guava leaf extract and Aloe vera extract with 12.86%, 12.28%, 11.70%, 11.13%, 9.36% and 7.34 per cent average inhibition respectively. Among the bioganets tested Pseudomonas fluorescens was best effective by forming 15.53 per cent inhibition zone followed by Bacillus subtilis with 12.71 per cent, inhibition. Thus, in the present study those botanicals and bioagents found effective could be exploited under field conditions for effective management of oily spot/blight of pomegranate.