INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF JATROPHA ROOT ROT CAUSED BY RHIZOCTONIA BATATICOLA

Root rot of jatropha caused by Rhizoctonia bataticola is an important disease reported recently in Haryana, India. Management studies were initiated to reduce the disease using fungicides, plant extracts and biocontrol agents. Results revealed that Bavistin and Vitavax were effective in inhibiting the growth of R. bataticola and reducing the incidence of jatropha root rot. These fungicides resulted in 100% inhibition of mycelial growth at 50 ppm. Seed treatment with Bavistin and its soil drenching caused the least pre-emergence (16.7%) and post-emergence mortalities (10.1%). In in vitro studies, neem extract at 20% concentration provided 55.6% inhibition. Trichoderma harzianum showed the highest mycelial growth inhibition (58.9 %) against R. bataticola. Bavistin alone at 2 g kg-1 seed was found to be the most effective treatment with 36.3% reduction in root rot. Integrated methods showed higher disease reduction compared with single method. Bavistin (2 g kg-1 seed) + neem extract (20%) was the most effective treatment with 67.3% reduction followed by T. harzianum (15 g kg-1 seed) + Bavistin (54.2%) and neem extract + T. harzianum (44.0%).