Performance of bioagents in management of wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f sp cumini) and their resultant effect on growth and productivity of cumin (Cuminum cyminium) under field conditions of arid region of Rajasthan

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during winter seasons of 2006-07 and 2007-08 at College of Agriculture, Swami
Keshvanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner to study the effect of different bioagents in controlling the  cumin wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f sp cumini) when used as alone and in combinations as seed treatment. It was found that combined use of different bioagents was more effective in reducing disease incidence and bringing significant improvements in growth and yield attributes and yields in comparison to control as well as their alone treatments. Seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens was the best treatment when used as alone that resulted in 92% increase in seed yield, on pooled basis. However, combination of Trichoderma harzianum + Pseudomonas fluorescens resulted in the lowest disease incidence and the highest disease control efficiency that led to significant improvements in growth and yield contributing parameters and on pooled basis this treatment combination resulted in to two fold increase in the seed yield in comparison to control.