Efficacy of Biological and Chemical Treatments for the Management of Damping Off (Pythium Spp.) of Bitter Gourd in the Nursery

A field experiment on “Efficacy of Biological and Chemical Treatments for the management of Damping Off (Pythium Spp.) of Bitter Gourd in the nursery” was conducted during March 1st 2017 to April 18th 2017. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with seven treatments and three replications. The treatments included biocontrol agent as Trichodermaharzianum(1× 106 CFU/ml),Vitavex (0.1%), Bavistin (2 g/kg of seed) and Mancozeb 75 % WP (2 g/kg of seed) as chemical treatments and integration of bio control agent and chemicals were used. The germination percentage, pre and post emergence damping off of bitter gourd seedlings were recorded. The significant; increment in germination percentage (120 %),reduction in pre and post disease incidence (92 % and 89 %) was found in seed treatment of Vitavex(0.1%) + soil treatment with Trichoderma (1× 106 CFU/ml) and it was followed by seed treatment with Bavistin (2 g/kg of seed). It was may be due to the inhibitory effect of fungicide Vitavex on development of seed borne pathogen reducing seedling mortality at an early stage followed by vigorous root and shoot development as affected by the antagonistic and hormonal effect of the Trichodermaharzianum.