ECO-FRIENDLY APPROACHES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT ROT OF EGGPLANT CAUSED BY Phomopsis vexans FOR SEED PRODUCTION

Abstract

Phomopsis fruit rot is a major constraint of quality seed production of eggplant in Bangladesh. The in vitro experiments were conducted in the M.S. Laboratory of the Department of Plant Pathology and the field experiment was conducted in the Central Farm, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207 during October 2018 to May 2019. A set of experimentation strategically designed to select the highest disease mitigating treatments for employing in ecofriendly management approaches against Phomopsis vexans for seed production of eggplant. The isolated organism causing fruit rot of eggplant was identified as Phomopsis vexans based on its key characteristics (CMI Description no. 338). For the management of the disease, a bioagent (Trichoderma harzianum), three fungicides viz. Companion, Autostin 50WDG and Tilt 250EC, four plant extracts viz. Allamanda leaf extract, Garlic clove extract, Turmeric rhizome extract and Onion bulb extract, and Krishibid Organic Fertilizer were evaluated in the experiment. The foliar spray of Trichoderma harzianum (“Biotech Care Trichoderma Suspension”) was found most effective in controlling the incidence and severity of fruit rot caused by Phomopsis vexans, increasing the fruit yield by 142.05% and seed yield by 146.84% compared to control. Seed germination of harvested seeds increased by 88.41% over control. Soil amendment with Krishibid Organic Fertilizer combined with Autostin 50WDG spraying was also found effective in increasing the fruit yield by 137.39%, seed yield by 142.54% and seed germination by 93.56% compared to control. Among the plant extracts, Garlic bulb extract and Turmeric rhizome extract were found most effective in increasing the fruit yield by 112.16%, 96.93%; seed yield by 112.15%, 100.05%, respectively over control.