Screening of Different Bioagents and Fungicides against Dry Root Rot of Chickpea Incited by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid.

Background: Dry root rot of chickpea caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid is a serious biotic constraint for chickpea production in Rajasthan. For the management of soil borne disease like dry root rot of chickpea, by using fungicides alone is not feasible due to environmental and health hazards. Hence integrated management of the disease by using bio-agents and fungicides is the best alternative. Therefore, in the present investigation, our main emphasis was to identify best fungicide and bio-agent for management of dry root rot in chickpea. Methods: Eight fungicides and four bio-agents were evaluated against dry root rot pathogen (M. phaseolina) in lab as well as in field condition. The experiment was conducted at instructional farm, COA, SKRAU, Bikaner during Rabi-2019 on most popular cv. GNG-1581 in RBD design with the application of seed treatment and soil application of different bio-agents and fungicides at different concentrations against dry root rot disease and compared with an untreated control. Result: Among all the fungicides used in the present investigation, tebuconazole 50% + trifloxystrobin 25% was found most effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth of the pathogen. Among all the bio-agents, T. harzianum was found most effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth of the pathogen. Under field condition, tebuconazole 50%+ trifloxystrobin 25% WG as seed treatment @ 1.5 g/kg along with T. harzianum @ 10 kg/ha as soil application gave maximum (83.76 %) disease control with highest pod yield (19.5 q/ha) and net return (Rs 39,826/ha). These treatments can provide an effective and economical management of dry root rot disease for chickpea cultivators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]