Management of Wilt Complex of Eggplant (<i>Solanum melongena</i> L.) Caused by <i>Fusarium oxysporum, Ralstonia solanacearum</i> and <i>Meloidogyne</i> spp.

Abstract

Wilt complex disease of eggplant is a severe problem in Bangladesh as well as in the world. The pathogenic variability and their survival nature make the disease complex. The pathogen includes a fungus ( Fusarium oxysporum), a bacterium ( Ralstonia solanacearum) and a nematode ( Meloidogyne spp.) that attack the plant individually or combinedly. The present investigation aimed to evaluate the integrated effects of different chemicals, poultry manure and Tr ichoderma harzianum to manage the disease. Carbendazim (Autos tin 50WP), Streptomycin sulphate 9% and Tetracycline hydrochloride 1% (Krosin 10SP) and Carbofuran (Furadan 3G) were used as a fungicide, bactericide and nematicide, respectively which were integrated with poultry manure and Trichoderma harzianum resulting in sixteen treatments . The treatment efficacy varied significantly in comparison to control in respect of wilt incidence, yield and yield contributing characters. No wilt incidence was observed where Trichoderma harzianum was applied individually or in combination with Furadan 3G, Krosin 10SP, Autostin 50WP and poultry manure. The highest yield increase (300%) over control was noted in the treatment where Krosin 10SP, Furadan 3G, Trichoderma harzianum and Poultry manure were applied combinedly. The same treatment showed the best performance over control by 32%, 29%, 60%, 53% in case of the number of branches, number of leaves, number of fruits and fruit length, respectively. This treatment (Krosin 10SP + Furadan 3G + Trichoderma sp. + Poultry manure) also provided the highest Benefit Cost Ration (5.68).