Bio-Intensive Disease Management Strategy as a Way to Control Pomegranate Wilt Caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata Ell. and Halst

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is one of the important fruit crops cultivated all over the world, particularly in the tropical and sub-tropics. It is affected by several diseases of which one of the most important diseases is Ceratocystis fimbriata. In the present study, we aimed to the management of pomegranate wilt. The management, under in vitro studies, captan, mancozeb, ziram, thiram, and zineb recorded maximum inhibition of mycelial growth at all concentrations (0.10%, 0.20%, and 0.30% respectively). Out of nine systemic fungicides tested, carbendazim, hexaconazole, thiophanate methyl, propiconazole, and tebuconazole showed 100 per cent inhibition at all concentrations (0.05%, 0.10% and 0.15% respectively). In case of combi-fungicide molecules, hexaconazole + zineb, carbendazim + mancozeb, trifloxystrobin + tebuconazole and captan + hexaconazole were found highly effective. Among bio-agents tested, T. harzianum (Th-R) and Diamond (T. viride) were found more effective as compared to other bio-control agents and inhibited maximum fungal growth (100%) of C. fimbriata. The fungicides and bio-agents which showed superior performance in vitro were selected and treatment combinations were made to develop a bio-intensive integrated management strategy against pomegranate wilt under field conditions. Field evaluation over two years indicated that three drenching of propiconazole (0.2%), Diamond (T. viride) (0.7 g/l) and T. harzianum (5g/l) at an interval of 15 days showed maximum disease control.