Effect of non systemic, systemic fungicides and bio control agents against wilt of pomegranate caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata

Pomegranate is one of the most adaptable subtropical minor fruit crops and its cultivation is increasing very rapidly. In recent years pomegranate plants are affected by many disease among them wilt caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata is the most destructive disease in pomegranate growing areas of the world. Use of fungicide or effective strain of biological control helps in controlling the diseases. In vitro screening serves as guide for field testing. Hence the present study was conducted to know the efficacy of different fungicides and biological control in vitro. Among seven non-systemic fungicides tested cymoxanil + mancozeb, mancozeb and captan completely inhibited the mycelial growth and least inhibition was recorded in copper hydroxide and chlorothalonil at all concentrations tested. Among thirteen systemic fungicides tested, 100 per cent inhibition was shown by all the fungicides at all concentrations tested expect in triadimefon and azoxystrobin. Triadimefon inhibited the mycelia growth completely at 0.2 and 0.3 per cent whereas at 0.1 per cent there was 76.66 per cent inhibition. The least mycelial growth inhibition was observed in azoxystrobin at all concentration. The maximum reduction in colony growth was observed in Trichoderma harzianum-55 which was very effective when compared to all other bioagentstested.Whereas,theminimumparasiticactivitywasnoticedincaseofBacillussubtilis1 and 2.