Efficacy of application methods of biocontrol agents and fungicides on Fusarium wilt management in banana

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the Horticultural Research Station, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology during 2013-14 in complete randomized block design. The treatments comprised of fungicides, biocontrol agents and neem cake used through sucker treatment, soil drenching and soil application methods. Sucker treatment and soil drenching with biocontrol agents Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens (T6) at 60 and 180 days after planting recorded highest plant height and highest number of total leaves while lowest plant height and lowest number of total leaves were recorded in control at full growth stage. Sucker treatment and soil drenching with biocontrol agents Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens recorded minimum percentage of yellow (30.30 %) and dead leaves (31.00 %) in a plant. Due to better control of disease incidence this treatment T6 also resulted in maximum bunch yield (20.87 t ha-1) and highest number of fingers in a bunch (79.20). Apart from soil drenching soil application of the biocontrol agents T. viride and P. fluorescens was also effective in controlling the disease.