Groundnut (Arachis hypogea L., Fam: Fabaceae), an important annual leguminous and oilseed crop grown in an area of 7.78 m ha with an average production and productivity of 7.79 m t and 990 kg ha-1 respectively. The crop is susceptible to many fungal diseases such as tikka, rust, charcoal rot and crown rot, of which tikka disease caused by Cercospora spp. is the most destructive disease claiming 10-50 % yield losses affecting pod yield and quality. The state of Meghalaya is considered as organic state by default. But there no recommendation on organic management practices of the tikka disease of groundnut which is urgent need for the state. In the present study, a field trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of UmTricho, a bioformulation developed from native strain of Trichoderma harzianum of Meghalaya against tikka leaf spot disease of groundnut. Efficacy of UmTricho was compared in six different treatment combinations viz., T1- Biopriming of seeds (10 ml UmTricho in 10

Groundnut, Tikka disease, UmTricho, Plant growth promotion.

The present study showed encouraging results of UmTricho against tikka disease of groundnut and can be used as a component of plant protection in organic package and practices for cultivation of groundnut in agro-ecological zone of Meghalaya. UmTricho as seed treatment (10 ml in 1 litre of water for per Kg seed) + soil application with enriched compost (1 Kg compost + 40 ml UmTricho) + 3 foliar sprays of enriched cow dung slurry (@ 100 ml in 10000 litres of water from 15 days after germination at 15 days interval) can reducetikka disease incidence. The devised technology can be further studied in pilot field trials in farmer’s field, if found effective can be transferred to farmers. Further work on interaction of the biocontrol agents with other botanical pesticides may be done for the synergistic effect of both the components for better management of plant diseases with enhanced plant growth and biochemical parameters.

Dutta, P., Deb, L., Gogoi, J., Mahanta, M., Kumari, A., Yasin, A. and Sharma, A. (2021). Um Tricho a liquid bioformulation of indigenous strain of Trichoderma harzianum effectively managed the tikka disease (Cercospora spp.) of groundnut, Arachis h