Diseases and Management of Crops under Protected Cultivation

(Diseases and Management of Crops under Protected Cultivation)
name of Mycostop. It was originally isolated from sphagnum peat and was tested as a
biocontrol agent against Fusarium wilt of carnations in commercial greenhouses.
5. Gliocladium catenulatum: It is a mycoparasite effective against damping-off, seed rot,
root rot, and wilt pathogens. It is sold as a wettable powder that can be applied to the soil,
roots, or foliage. In glasshouse trials with ornamental bedding plants, application by
incorporation into the growing mix or drench reduced damping-off caused by Pythium and
Rhizoctonia. In some cases, G. catenulatum was as effective as the fungicides
propamocarb or tolclofos.
6. Non-pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum: It is effective against Fusarium wilt diseases on
carnation, tomato, cyclamen, and Fusarium crown and root rot on tomato. Mechanisms of
action include competition for carbon, direct competition with pathogenic strains, and
induction of host defenses.
7. Bacillus subtilis var. amyloliquefaciens: Several strains of B. subtilis tested on
cucumber and tomato against Pythium aphanidermatum and Phytophthora nicotianae in a
series of greenhouse trials. It shows growth promotion effect on corn and radish. FZB C
and G strains of B. subtilis produced peptide antibiotics active against F. oxysporum f. sp.
radicis-lycopersici.
Biological control of greenhouse diseases in India: In India, integrated pest management
research has not matched the progress and problems of plant protection at large and green house
cultivation in particular. Trichoderma harzianum and T. viride are the most common fungal bioagents
used for suppression of soil borne plant pathogens. Pseudomonas fluorescens, used as
addendum to FYM, effective against Fusarium oxysporum, Pythium spp, Rhizoctonia solani,
Phytophthora spp., Sclerotium rolfsii and nematode parasites. The following table shows important
diseases of green house crops in India and their biocontrol.
Diseases Crops Management
Powdery mildew Capsicum, cucumber Bacillus subtilis (10g/l)
Downy mildew Cucumber Bacillus subtilis (10g/l)
Fusarium wilt Tomato, cucumber Trichoderma spp. (10g/m 2 ),
Pseudomonas fluorescens (10ml/m 2 )
Damping off Capsicum, cucumber Trichoderma spp. (10g/m 2 ),
Pseudomonas fluorescens (10ml/m 2 )
Fruit rot Tomato Bacillus subtilis (10g/l)
Root knot nematode Capsicum, cucumber,
tomato
Trichoderma spp. (10g/m 2 ),
Pseudomonas fluorescens (10ml/m 2 )
Biocontrol agents and ecology: The use of living organisms to combat other living organisms
presupposes a thorough knowledge of their ecology. Efficient root colonization and establishment
of biocontrol bacteria is of key importance for effective suppression of deleterious organisms.
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