Amrita Vasuniya, R.N. Bunker, N.L. Meena, Damini Patel, Jagmal Singh Khangarot, Devendra Jain and H.S. Meena
Abstract
The present study evaluated the efficacy of six fungicides and four bio-agents against Macrophomina phaseolina, the causal agent of charcoal rot of maize, under in vitro conditions. Among the fungicides tested using the poisoned food technique, Carbendazim 50% WP proved most effective, completely inhibiting mycelial growth (100%) at all concentrations (500, 750 and 1000 ppm). Followed by Mancozeb 63% WP + Carbendazim 12% WP with 97.60, 98.79 and 100 per cent inhibition at concentration 2000, 2500 and 3000 ppm and Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25% WG with 90.91, 93.62 and 97.63 per cent were the next most effective treatments, Azoxystrobin 18.2% + Difenoconazole 11.4% SC was the least effective fungicide with52.78, 63.07 and 70.90% inhibition. The antagonistic activity of four bio-agents was assessed using the dual culture technique. All bio-agents significantly suppressed the pathogen, with T. viride showing the highest inhibition (72.31%), followed by Trichoderma harzianum (67.75%), Pseudomonas fluorescens (59.56%) and Bacillus subtilis (53.78%). The study revealed that Carbendazim 50 % WP, T. viride and P. fluorescens were the most effective fungicide and bio-agent, respectively, for the management of charcoal rot of maize caused by M. phaseolina under in vitro conditions.