Abstract
Background: Complex disease caused by root-knot nematode and Fusarium fungus in cucumber is the most destructive disease under polyhouse conditions. The study was conducted to determine the potential of biocontrol agents viz. Trichoderma viride, Pseudomonas fluorescence, Purpureocillium lilacinum against root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum disease complex on cucumber.Results: All bioagents were taken @ 0.3 and 0.5 g/kg soil and liquid formulation of bioagents, @ 0.5 and 1 ml/ kg soil, Chemical checks as well as untreated check were also maintained. The bio-agents were mixed with the potted soil treatment wise. All the treatments significantly improved the plant growth parameter, viz., shoot length, root length, fresh shoot weight, fresh root weight, dry shoot weight and dry root weight as compared to untreated check. However, maximum improvement in plant growth parameter was recorded in case of carbofuran followed by higher dose of liquid formulation of bioagents. Among bioagents, liquid formulation of bioagents was significantly improved the plant growth parameter, viz., shoot length (147.3), fresh shoot weight (55.6), dry shoot weight (22.51) and dry root weight (4.50) and most effective in suppressing root knot nematode galling (43) and final population in soil (131) and fungus wilt incidence (25 %) at 30th day of after germination followed by P. lilacinum T. viride and P. fluorescence. Conclusion: The results suggest that the liquid formulation of bioagents was more effective in suppression of root-knot nematode and fungus complex disease than the powder formulations of bioagents. More studies should be needed in future to evaluate the efficacy of bioagents as seed treatments and soil applications under field conditions.
Inhibition of Abscisic Acid Biosynthesis in Cercospora rosicola by Inhibitors of Gibberellin Biosynthesis and Plant Growth Retardants
