ROLE OF BIO-AGENTS AND BOTANICALS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ANTHRACNOSE OF POMEGRANATE

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a commercially important fruit of both tropical and subtropical countries. Among the various fungal diseases, anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz) Penz. and Sacc. is one of the most serious diseases of pomegranate worldwide. The present investigation was therefore initiated to elucidate the efficacy of PGPR, bio-agents and botanicals in the management of diseases. Efficacy of bacterial and fungal bioagents was studied in in vitro and in vivo conditions by following the dual culture method. There were significant differences among the bio-agents tested. Trichoderma viride (I) (79.1%) was found to be significant in inhibiting the mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides followed by Trichoderma harzianum (I) (62.8%). Among the bacterial bio-agents, Pseudomonas fluorescens recorded maximum inhibition (54.8%) and least inhibition of mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides was recorded in Bacillus subtilis (34.9%). Seven plant extracts were tested for their efficacy in which, maximum of 93.4 and 88.1% inhibition of mycelial growth of fungus was observed in eucalyptus extract followed by garlic extract at 10% concentration, respectively. Effectiveness of botanicals and bio-agents, which performed well under laboratory conditions, were tested in field condition to manage the anthracnose of pomegranate. Among the seven treatments minimum disease index was recorded in T. viride (I) (18.9%) treatment with highest yield (7290 kg/ha).