CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF FUSARIUM ROOT ROT OF OKRA

The effect of Trichoderma harzianum and T. viride and three fungicides i.e. Benlate, Ridomil and Dithane M-45, was investigated on the management of Fusarium root rot in okra under screen house conditions. The disease incidence and percent mortality were significantly reduced (p <= 0.05) by all the fungicides and antagonists when compared with untreated check plants. T. harzianum and Ridomil increased the yield by 83.6 and 80.2 %, respectively. Under In vitro study, Dithane M-45 proved to be more effective than Ridomil and Benlate used alone or integrated with any of the antagonists. Maximum colony diameter of the pathogen (6.9 cm) was recorded in control treatment. T. viride was less effective when used alone or with any fungicide, while T. harzianum reduced the colony diameter by 43.5 % under In vitro.