Bio-control of foot and root rot of tomato using formulated Enterobacter ludwigii HSTUB 16

Abstract

Foot and root rot of tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporum is a devastating disease responsible for huge yield loss. Chemical control of the disease is very expensive, causing polluted environment and human health hazards. As an eco-friendly management practices, previously isolated and identified E. ludwigii HSTUB 16 was used for the formulation a bio-fungicide in combination with charcoal, maize bran, pea bran, soybean bran, and wood dust. The formulated bio-fungicides were applied to control foot and root rot of two tomato varieties namely Rajkumar and Bipul Plus. Among all the formulated bio-fungicides, charcoal-based formulated E. ludwigii HSTUB 16 followed by spraying of E. ludwigii HSTUB 16 (108 CFU/mL) resulted maximum reduction of foot and root rot incidence (%) and severity (%) (70.99 & 70%; 71.32 & 81.68%) over control in Rajkumar and Bipul plus, respectively. The application of charcoal-based formulated E. ludwigii HSTUB 16 followed by spraying of E. ludwigii HSTUB 16 suspension (108 CFU/mL) resulted the highest yield (4.60 and 4.30 kg/plant), maximum plant height and number of branch (60.67 & 46.67 cm and 9.33 & 10.33 cm) in both Rajmumar and Bipul plus, respectively. The finding of the study suggest the efficacy of charcoal-based formulated E. ludwigii HSTUB 16 for the eco-friendly management of foot and root rot of tomato in field conditions.