Evaluation of fungicides and bioagents against Fusarium solani incitant of wilt disease of gladiolus

Fusarium solani is an important soil borne pathogen that can reduce corm and flower production of gladiolus in the world. Wilt disease of gladiolus caused by F. solani leading to symptoms yellowing, corm rot, browning of foliage and wilting. It reduces the quality, yield and market value of gladiolus which causes yield losses upto 60-70 per cent. In the present study, seven fungitoxicants and six bioagents were evaluated in in vitro and in vivo against F. solani. Among fungicides, Benomyl (0.1%) and Carebendazim (0.1%) showed complete inhibition of mycelial growth followed by Captan (0.15%) while Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma virens followed by Bacillus subtilis found most significant bioagent to control growth of Fusarium in in vitro. Whereas, dipping of gladiolus corms in Captan and Benomyl at the 0.3 per cent and 0.2 per cent resp. found most effective in controlling the wilt of gladiolus in in vivo experimental trail.