Screening of fungicides and bio-control agents against Sclerotium rolfsii (Sacc.) causing collar rot in Lentil

Lentil is an important pulse crop, contributes about 8-9% of the total pulse production in India and is also a major source of protein, minerals and vitamins.Collar rot of lentil is an important seedling disease caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.In this study, twenty isolates (Th1-Th20) of Trichoderma harzianum, one isolate of Pseudomonas fluorescence and nine commercially available fungicides were tested in vitro for their efficacy in inhibiting the growth of the pathogen.Trichoderma harzianum isolate Th16 and Th14 were found to inhibit maximum mycelial growth of the pathogen.The complete inhibition of mycelial growth of Sclerotium rolfsii was found with Propiconazole, Tabuconazole, Hexaconazole, Ridomil and Carbendazim+ Mancozeb at all (0.03%, 0.05% and 0.1%) concentrations.Other fungicides (Captan, Mancozeb and Carbendazim) also showed significant inhibition of the mycelial growth of the pathogen.No inhibition was recorded in the treatment with copper oxychloride even at 0.2% concentration.