Effect of Plant Extracts, Bio Agents and Fungicides against Sclerotium rolfsii Causing Collar Rot in Chickpea

Antifungal effects of methanol, acetone, dichloromethane and aqueous extracts of four flowers, marigold (Tagetes erecta), Gaillardia sp. (G. aristata), Chrysanthemum sp. (C. indicum) and Calotropis sp. (C. gigantea) were evaluated in vitro and in vivo against Sclerotium rolfsii, the causal agent of collar rot of chickpea alone and in combination with bio agents. Among all extracts tested, aqueous extract of marigold flower exhibited potential antifungal activity against S. rolfsii. Seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens 10 g/kg+Trichoderma harzianum 4 g/kg+marigold aqueous extract 4% was proved to be effective in increasing seedling vigour index of chickpea (2716.91) in paper towel assay and also found effective to reduce collar rot disease incidence of chickpea (70.56%) under greenhouse conditions.