Meena, P: Epidemiology and Bio-control of Alternaria blight

Fungicides mancozeb and carbendazim caused 100% reduction in mycelial growth of Alternaria brassicae over control in vitro while 1% (w/v) aqueous bulb extract of Allium sativum and leaf extract of Acacia nilotica caused significant reductions. In dual culture, GR isolate of Trichoderma viride performed the best among the test isolates of Trichoderma, causing 81%, 82% reduction in mycelial growth of A. brassicae over control. Performance of isolates SI-2, P and SI-1 of T. viride were at par (P 0.01) with that of GR isolate. Spraying of A. brassicae at different ages of the mustard host plant identified 75 days after sowing (d.a.s.) as the most critical age of the mustard plant for development of Alternaria blight severity on the crop with 45 d.a.s. being the next most important one. Mancozeb was the best among all the treatments, resulting in the lowest disease severity on leaves of mustard at both Sewar and Ludhavai as also the lowest A-value (area under disease progress curve). Performance of bulb extract of A. sativum in checking the disease severity on leaves and pods was at par (P 0.05) with mancozeb. The GR isolate of T. viride was at par with mancozeb in checking blight s