Study on leaf spot/blight Drechslera state of Trichometasphaeria holmii (Luttrell) Subramanian & Jain. of Heliconia (Heliconia orthotricha L.) under south Gujarat condition was carried out to find out suitable management strategies of this newly reported disease. Due to hazardous effect of chemical fungicides, search for safer alternative to control the pathogen is better option. This led to trials on the use of bio agents to control the pathogen. The seven known bio agents were evaluated by dual culture, pathogen at periphery and pathogen at the centre technique to monitor antagonistic effect. Results revealed that out of all the seven bio agents used, three bio agents viz., Aspergillus niger Link. (Navsari, isolate) (85.18%, 84.67% and 83.68%), Pseudomonas fluorescens Migula. (Navsari isolate) (81.85%, 75.86%, and 62.76%) and Trichoderma longibrachyatum Rifai.(I.A.R.I., isolate) (76.66%, 55.93%, 81.56% maximum growth inhibition in dual culture, pathogen at periphery and pathogen at the centre methods respectively), showed strong antagonistic effect to inhibit the mycelia growth of the pathogen significantly.
Biological control, antagonists, Heliconia, Drechslera state of Trichometasphaeria holmii.
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