Studies on Management of Wilt (Fusarium Oxysporum F. Sp. Pisi) of Field Pea (Pisum Sativum)

Abstract

Pulses are an integral part of Indian farming. They have the unique property of maintaining and restoring soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation as well as conserving and improving the physical properties of soil under their deep root system and leaf fall. Pea is one of the major crops in the world. Pea grains are full of vitamins, dietary fibers, minerals, fats 1.4%, Proteins 27.8%, and carbohydrates up to 42.65%. It is a rich source of amino acids, especially lysine which is one of the essential amino acids particularly low in cereals. The present investigations were carried out on “studies on the management of wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi) of field pea (Pisum sativum)”. The results of the present investigation on Fusarium wilt of pea showed that the colonies are generally purplish-white in color with central core of branching strands which with maturity become purple in color. Regarding the different experiments conducted for managing the Fusarium wilt of pea (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi), efficacy of four bio-agents viz., Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis, Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride were studied against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi by using dual culture technique on PDA medium, the maximum mycelial growth inhibition was recorded by Trichoderma viride (70%) and minimum mycelial growth inhibition was recorded by Bacillus subtilis (39.45 %) followed by Pseudomonas fluorescens (46.66%) at 144 hours. Eight different fungicides at three different concentrations of 50, 100, and 150 ppm by Poisoned food technique were tested. The complete inhibition was shown in Thiophanate Methyl 70% WP, Tebuconazole 75% WP and Carbendazim 50% WP (100 %) and minimum inhibition was observed after 144 hrs. of incubation. In vitro evaluation of six plant extracts against Fusarium wilt of pea suggested that Garlic clove extract was most efficient (93.33%, 85.93%) at 10% and 5% respectively followed by 10% Turmeric rhizome extract (84.07%) and 10% aloe vera leaf extract (80.74%). For integrated management of disease, foliar application of thiophanate methyl @ 0.1% concentration (5.71%) was found most effective for reducing the disease incidence of wilt of pea and increasing the yield of pea followed by soil application of Propiconazole (@ 0.1% concentration) (7.14%).