Fungi associated with rhizosphere soil in mango decline orchards and their in vitro control.
Abdul Rehman, Muhammad Saleem, Saira Mehboob, Bokhari A. A.
Author Affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Pakistan Journal of Phytopathology 23 : 112-117
Abstract : A survey of Multan and Muzaffar Garh districts of Punjab was conducted in autumn, 2009 to collect the soil samples from rhizosphere of declined mango trees. Multan was the most affected district with 5.98% disease incidence, while in Muzaffar Garh it was 5.55%. Maximum frequency of fungal pathogen was isolated by dilution plate technique followed by needle method. Botryodiplodia theobromae (12.55%) was most abundantly isolated fungal pathogen. Colony growth of B. theobromae was maximum at 30°C and second dominant growth was at 25°C. pH levels of 7 and 8 are best for thexolony growth of B. theobromae. Carbendazim proved the best fungicide in vitro suppressing the growth of B. theobromae showing 1.27 cm, 1.5 cm, and 1.76 cm colony diameter at 100 ppm, 60 ppm and 20 ppm, respectively. Chlorothalonil was found the second most effective fungicide after Carbendazim showing the colony diameter of 1.59 cm at 100 ppm, 1.78 cm at 60 ppm and 1.93 at 20 ppm concentrations. Mancozeb showed the least efficacy against B. theobromae in all concentrations.