In-vitro Efficacy of Different Fungicides and Bioagents for Management Wilt of Watermelon [Citrullus lanatus] Incited by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum

Fusarium wilt of watermelon caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum has been emerged as one of the major threats to the profitable cultivation of watermelon crops. In present investigation, seven fungicides viz., namely Carbendazim 50% WP, Copper Oxychloride 50% WP, Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25% WG, Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% (75% WP), Chlorothalonil 75% WP, Azoxystrobin 23% SC and Tebuconazole 25.9% EC along with four bioagents namely, Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma koningii and Trichoderma longibrachiatum were evaluated the in vitro at two different concentrations for their efficacy against the pathogen causing wilt in of watermelon. Among the different fungicides evaluated, Carbendazim 50% WP (0.1% and 0.2% concentration) and Carbendazim 12% +Mancozeb 63% (0.1% and 0.2% concentration) were completely inhabited the mycelial growth of F. oxysporum f.sp. niveum completely. Among the different bioagents evaluated, Trichoderma harzianum was found to be the most effective, exhibiting significantly the least mycelial growth (22.50 mm) and the highest mycelial growth inhibition (75.00%) of the test pathogen.