Biocontrol of anthracnose of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) caused by Colletotrichum spp. using mycoparasites
Loading...
Files
Date
2002
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani
Abstract
An investigation was done for exploiting potential biocontrol agents
for the management of anthracnose of black pepper. Survey conducted on the
incidence of anthracnose disease in eleven different locations of the state
during February - July 2000 revealed that Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was
the most common pathogen associated with this disease. Distinct variability in
morphological characters and pathogenicity was exhibited by the di"fferent
isolates of the pathogen. The most virulent isolate was isolate C6 from
Perinthalmanna. The pathogen survived for three months on infected leaves in
the soil and upto five months on infected leaves under laboratory conditions.
A study was conducted to isolate potential mycoparasites of
C. gloeosporioides from the rhizosphere and phyllosphere of both healthy and
diseased black pepper plants from the various locations surveyed. Among the
fungi isolated, two isolates of Trichoderma harzianum Rifai (T I and T 2) and
two isolates of Aspergillus niger van Tieghem (A, and A2) were found to be
most effective in' inhibiting C. gloeosporioides in vitro. After mass
multiplication, the selected fungal antagonists were formulated in talc, which
was found to be the best carrier material for maintaining the viability of the
antagonists. The shelf life of the talc based formulations were 150 days and
180 days for the T. harzianum isolates and A. niger isolates respectively. The
antagonistic fungi were tested separately under greenhouse conditions by a
combination of two methods of application viz., soil application and foliar
spray. Greenhouse studies indicated that all the four isolates were equally
effective In suppressing the development of the disease in black pepper
cuttings. Application of the talc based formulations of the four isolates in the
soil @ 109 / kg soil followed by foliar spray with one per cent suspension of
the talc based formulations twice at 15 days interval starting from 10 days
after pathogen inoculation was very effective in controlling the disease under
greenhouse conditions. In general, application of the fungal antagonists
promoted the growth of black pepper cuttings. Isolate Al produced maximum
shoot length, root length and fresh weight in the treated black pepper cuttings.
The results of the study assigned dual roles as biocontrol agents and plant
growth promoters for all the four fungal antagonists.
Description
PG
Keywords
null
Citation
171978