Beneficial microbial application for the management of ginger rhizome rot

Abstract

Rhizome rot caused by Pythium aphanidermatum, is one of the major constraints in the production of ginger. Management of plant diseases by chemical fungicides has lead to the development of fungicide resistant strains of plant pathogens. Hence, biological control of disease using bio control organisms is the distinct possibility and can be exploited within the framework of integrated disease management system. The pooled data of trials conducted at two different locations in Gudalur region indicated that, treatment of rhizomes with P. fluorescens @ 10g kg-1 of rhizomes at the time of planting along with soil application on 3, 5 and 7 months after planting reduced the incidence of rhizome rot (11.37 %) in ginger with an average rhizome yield of 37.04 t ha-1, while in control the incidence was 22.47 % with an average rhizome yield of 19.87 t ha-1.