Integrated management of charcoal rot disease of soybean caused by Macrophomina phaseolina

Abstract

An attempt was taken for the management of charcoal rot disease of soybean caused by Macrophomina phaseolina using the integration of bio-agent with fungicide and organic amendment. Before going to the field experiments, different in-vitro trials were conducted to select a virulent isolate of M. phaseolina, an effective antagonistic isolate of Trichoderma harzianum, suitable fungicide and organic amendment. Among the seven isolates of M. phaseolina, MSP-4 isolate was selected as the test pathogen by the pathogenicity test. On the contrary, among the eighty-seven isolates of T. harzianum, ISR-26 isolate showed the highest (81.85%) inhibition of radial growth of test pathogen. In the case of fungicidal evaluation trial, Provax 200WP was found the most effective seed treating fungicide at the moderate concentration (150 ppm), while experienced the highest concentration of Conza 5%EC and Bavistin 50WP for inhibiting the radial growth of M. phaseolina isolate MSP-4. Additionally, in-vitro trial of different organic amendments, mustard oil cake was found the most active organic amendment for reducing the growth (50.92%) and development of test pathogen at 3% concentration level. In the field trial, integrated use of T. harzianum with Provax 200WP, and mustard oil cake under the treatment with T9 appeared the best treatment in reducing seedling mortality (80.47%), disease incidence (80.14%) as well as disease severity (88.55%) caused by the test pathogen. Moreover, treatment T9 was the best treatment not only for the management of the soybean disease but also increased the significant quantity of yield (104.42%). This integrated approach could be more helpful for soybean growers all over the world.