In vitro evaluation of biocontrol agents and botanicals against onion basal rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae

Abstract

Efficacy of biocontrol agents and botanicals was evaluated for their potential to manage the basal rot of onion caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae. Six biocontrol agents such as, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma viride Persex. Fr., Trichoderma koningii Oudern, Trichoderma virens Miller, Pseudomonas fluorescens Migula and Bacillus subtilis were tested for their antagonistic activity against the pathogen by dual culture technique. Among the tested isolates T. harzianum recorded the maximum (75.92%) inhibition. Among the tested botanicals NSKE (43.95%) was found effective in inhibiting mycelial growth which was followed by prickly chaff flower (34.81%).