TRICHODERMA HARZIANUM AND PSEUDOMONAS FLOURESCENS AGAINST SCLEROTIUM ROLFSII (SACC.) CAUSING COLLAR ROT OF CHICKPEA

Soil borne plant pathogenic fungus Sclerotium rolfsii has a host range of more than 500 species of cultivated and wild plants in tropical and subtropical regions (2, 12). It causes collar rot and root rot indifferent plants including legumes, crucifers, cucurbits, potato, carrot, celery, sweet corn, eggplant, lettuce, okra, onion, peppers, sweet potato, tomato, amaryllis, chrysanthemum, delphinium, iris, narcissus, tulip, alfalfa, cotton, peanut and tobacco, respectively While Graminaceous species are less susceptible (7). This pathogen also known to cause collar rot disease in chickpea and is considered as one of the economically important disease of chickpea in India (10). Seedling mortality of 54.7 to 95% was recorded in chickpea due to severe infestation of S. rolfsii (6,8). The disease results from infection by germinating sclerotia produced by pathogen which are resistant survival structures and control of the pathogen through host resistance is difficult . It is now widely recognized that biological control of plant pathogens is a distinct possibility for the future and can be; successfully exploited in modern agriculture, especially with in the frame work of integrated disease management system. However, the successful cultivation of chickpea. It is necessary to know about the fungicidal and biological control of this fungus. In view of above, the present invbestigations were conducted to determine the efficacy of fungicides and biocontrol agents against S. rolfsii under Laboratory conditions. Pathogen isolate: S.rolfsii was isolated from chickpea plants who wing collar rot at Crop Research Center of S.V.P.U.A & T. Meerut pure culture and maintained on Potato dextrose agar medium.