Stem rot and collar rot are the major soil borne diseases incited by Sclerotium rofsii and Aspergillus niger causes significant economic losses in groundnut crop. Both the pathogen are soilborne in nature and once established it will survive in the soil for many years. The present study was taken to identify the eco-friendly management of these major soilborne diseases in groundnut crop. In the present study the soil microflora was isolated from the soil collected from the major groundnut growing areas of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states. The isolated microflora was tested against stem rot and collar rot pathogens under in vitro condition by using dual culture plate technique. Based on in vitro studies the bioagents (fungal and bacterial) which are showing highest inhibition against stem rot and collar rot pathogens were used in management of stem rot and collar rot under field conditions. Field evaluation using effective bioagents MBNRT-1 (Trichodema harzianum) and MBNRB-3 (Bacillus amyloliquifaciens) along with standard fungicide indicated that, tebuconazole as seed treatment (ST) resulted in lowest collar rot incidence (4.56%). This is followed by seed treatment + soil application (SA) of MBNRT-1 (5.96%). Pod yields were significantly higher in seed treatment + soil application of MBNRT-1 treated plots when compare to other treatments. Similarly, in stem rot management experiment, seed treatment with tebuconazole resulted lowest disease incidence (15.47%), followed by seed treatment + soil application of MBNRT-1 (16.4%). Overall, our results revealed the scope of integrating the bioagents with fungicides in managing the collar rot and stem rot diseases in groundnut.

Collar rot, Groundnut, Management, Soilborne disease, Stem rot

Seed treatment with tebuconazole and seed treatment + soil application of bioagent Trichoderma harzianum (MBNRT-1) were recorded lowest incidence of stem rot and collar rot diseases in groundnut. Whereas, highest pod yields were observed with seed treatment + soil application of bioagent T. harzianum (MBNRT-1). Hence it was concluded that, seed treatment + soil application of bioagent T. harzianum (MBNRT-1) has not only reduced the disease incidence it also improved pod yields in groundnut.

V. Divya Rani, Hari Sudini, P. Narayan Reddy, G. Uma Devi and K. Vijay Krishna Kumar (2022). Integrated Management of Stem Rot and Collar Rot Diseases of Groundnut incited by Aspergillus niger and Sclerotium rolfsii. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(3): 1524-1530.