Evaluation of bio-control agents and new fungicides to control Pythium damping off in nursery of solanaceous vegetable crops

Nursery of solanaceous vegetable crops severely infected by damping - off. Commercial cultivation of solanaceous vegetables are depends on healthy and disease free seedlings under nursery condition in fields. Seed treatments are most cost effective and commonly used delivery system for bio-agents and fungicides. Nine modules comprises three talc based fungal [Trichoderma viride- 1 (IIVR-BATF-39-1), T. viride-2 (IIVR-BATF-43-1), Trichoderma harzianum -Kalyanpur)], two bacterial (Bacillus subtilis (IIVR-BS2, Pseudomonas fluorescens -Kalyanpur) formulations and four fungicides (carbendazim 12% + mancozeb 63% WP, pencycuron 250 SC, fosetyl-Al 80% WP, fenamidone 10% + mancozeb 50% (WP) were evaluated under nursery of tomato, brinjal and chilli in kharif season during 2016–2018. Among tested bio-formulations of bio-agents Bacillus subtilis (IIVR-BS2) was found effective for highest germination percentage in tomato (84.77) and brinjal (66.81) and lowest incidence of damping off 15.22% and 33.18%, repectively whereas cost benefit ratio (CBR) 1: 79.98 (tomato var. Kashi Aman) and 1: 36.69 (brinjal var Kashi Taru) were recorded. However, among all tested modules, a fungicide carbendazim 12% WP + mancozeb 63% WP was found most effective in chilli for highest germination percentage (86.58), vigour index (479.52) and lowest incidence of damping off (13.30) with cost benefit ratio (CBR) 1: 90.79. Hence, use of bio-agent Bacillus subtilis (IIVR-BS2) 3.92x10" cfu/g in tomato and brinjal; however, combiproduct of carbendazim (12%) and mancozeb (63%) in chilli may be recommended for management of damping off in nursery.