EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT ESSENTIAL OILS AND BIO CONTROL AGENTS AGAINST ALTERNARIA ALTERNATA THE CAUSAL AGENT OF FRUIT ROT OF JUJUBE

Abstract

This study was carried out on the evaluation of different essential oils and biocontrol agents against Alternaria alternata the causal agent of fruit rot. For the pathogenicity test against A. alternata was performed through cut and injection inoculation methods. The antifungal potential of different essential oils like turpentine, laung, neem and castus root was carried out at different doses i.e. 5, 10 and 15% by food poisoned method to find out the effective and suitable oil for the growth inhibition of A. alternata and evaluate the effect of some biocontrol agents on growth inhibition of A. alternata. The findings of this investigation stated that cut method of inoculation showed higher percentage (2.60) of rotting as compared to injection method of inoculation (2.35). Minimum colony growth of A. alternata (31.60, 21.25 and 15.16%) was examined under Laung oil at the dosage of 5, 10 and 15% followed by Neem oil (42.60, 31.60 and 21.30%), respectively. Maximum colony growth of A. alternata (62.71, 52.40 and 41.75%) was observed under Castus root oil at the dosage of 5, 10 and 15%. Zero growth of target pathogen was examined under Turpentine at 5, 10 and 15%. Under control the A. alternata showed (90 mm) colony growth. Minimum linear colony growth of A. alternata was observed for Hypoxylon Sp1 (50.31%), followed by Neurospora spp. (52.97%), Lasiodiplodia theobromae (54.7%), Chactomium subaffine (57.07%) and Fusarium sp. (65.4%). Maximum mycelial colony growth (90%) was recorded in control. Based on present investigation, Similarly, for controlling the linear colony growth of A. alternata under in vitro conditions Turpentine oil ranked 1^st, Laung oil ranked 2^nd, Neem oil ranked 3^rd, Castus root oil ranked 4^th.