Effect of Banana Pseudostem Sap and P. fluorescens on Mango Diseases in Field Condition

Abstract

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is an important fruit crop of India and other sub-tropical and tropical countries of the world. Mango fruit is one of the most popular, nutritionally rich fruits with unique flavor, fragrance, taste, and health promoting qualities, making it number one among new functional foods, often labeled as "super fruits". In pre-harvest condition, several diseases are found on the mango which reduces the yield, decreases marketability and shelf life after harvest of the fruits. Widely used fungicides have led to increased activity in the development of biol. control against plant pathogens. Hence, the present investigation on the biol. control of mango diseases was carried out in in vivo condition, the efficacy of banana pseudostem sap and bio-control agent (P. fluorescens) on the disease severity of anthracnose, powdery mildew and gray blight of mango and found that spraying and drenching of banana pseudostem sap @ 2.0 % and 15%, resp. reduce the per cent disease intensity of anthracnose and powdery mildew as compared with control and increase the average yield of mango(average 81.58 kg/plant). In biochem. parameter significantly highest phenol content was also observed in this treatment.