In Vitro Evaluation of Different Plant Products, Fungicides and Bio-agents Against Fusarium Moniliforme -a Causal Organism of Bakanae Disease of Rice

Abstract

Rice is an important cereal crop. It contributes about half of the total food grain and 55% of total cereal production. It is an important source of carbohydrates, protein, fat and vitamins. It is the staple food of over half of the world's population. More than 90% of the world's rice is grown and consumed in Asia. India is the second largest rice producer, accounting for 22.25% of the world's rice production. India has the largest acreage under rice with a production of about 103.41 million tones (record) in the year 2011-12. Last fiscal, rice occupied the major share about 55 per cent in India's total cereals exports. Utter Pradesh is second largest rice growing state and share approximately 11.91% in total rice production. Rice grows in the country is primarily divided into Basmati rice and Non-Basmati rice. Basmati rice is the pride of India. India is the leader in production and export of basmati rice. Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, U.P and some part of J&K., Delhi and Rajsthan are major basmati producing states. The Rice crop is infected by many pathogens (fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes) but some of them such as, Blast disease; Sheath blight, False smut, Foot rot disease and Bacterial leaf blight are serious problems in rice production. Basmati varieties are more susceptible to these diseases. Among-these diseases Foot rot disease is becoming a serious threat to basmati production and had · been reported to cause 20-50% loss in total production. This disease also known as bakanae disease of rice. Two -three time increase in height, yellowing of leaves, rotting of foot region in advance stage are some ofthe characteristic symptom ofthis disease .This disease is caused by Fusarium moni/iforme (telomorph Gibberella fujikuroi) which produce gibberellins hormones that is responsible to increase the infected plant bight. Management of disease has been generally achieved by the use of chemical fungicides but these chemicals are known to pollute the environment, soil and water, and ultimately are deleterious to human health. Heavy use of chemical pesticides in basmati crop protection is threat to our basmati export programme. This led to develop, environment friendly and safe to human health, alternative control measures. Many plants and their products are known to have antifungal activity. Such plant product may be suitable to fit in the frame work of integrated management of bakanae disease of basmati rice. During the present investigation the six oil cakes (neeme, karanje, mahua , groundnut , mustard and cotton ), nine essential oil of different plants ( banana, shisham, neem, mahua, mustard, pumpkin, coconut, castor and til), extract of nine plants (ajwain, Chenopodium, Parthinium, Coriander, Marigold, Aak, Bhang, Aloe-vera and Aswgandha ), seven fungicides (Tabucanazole, Thiophanate, Carbendazim, Mancozeb, Thirum and Propineb) and three antagonists (Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma aspere/um and Pseudomonas fluorescence) were tested in vitro to evaluate their antifungal activity agains Fusariuym monliformae . During the investigation extract of different oil cakes,plant extracts, essential oil and fungicides were tested against F. moniliforme through food poison technique . Result indicates that, mahua cake maximum inhibited (59.31 and 64.03%) pathogen growth at both concentrations (10&20%) respectively. Among essential oil, Banana oil showed the maximum inhibition (77.06%) followed by shisham oil (71.51 %) at 10% concentration. Ajwain extract completely suppressed the pathogen growth at 20% concentration; however extract of other plant such as Marigold, Aak, Parthinium, Coriander, Bhang and Aloe- vera were somewhat stimulatory to Fusarium moniliforme. Among the fungicides, all systemic fungicides are very much inhibitory at minimum concentration (lOOppm). But non- systemic fungicides are Jess inhibitory to test pathogen at all the tested concentrations as compare to the systemic fungicides. Studied also indicates that all bio-agent tested are suppressive to the F. monliformae. The metabolites of Pseudomonas fluorescence were also found inhibitory (49.62%) to the growth of F. monliforme. Based on present investigation, it can be concluded that fungi toxic ?roperties of the all differ~nt substanc.es may be of great importance in plant disease management, as an tmportant component of mtegrated dtsease management programme, particularly for seed and soil borne plant pathogens.