Effects of Chemical Fungicides, Trichoderma Viride and Garlic Extract On Control of Fusarium Wilt and Fruit Yield of Round Melon

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum, is a devastating disease of round melon (Praecitrullus fistulosus) that may cause significant yield losses if not managed by seed treatment and well-timed fungicide applications. To determine the effect of different treatments on round melon wilt severity and round melon fruit yield, field trials were completed at grower’s field in the Jaipur district of Rajasthan provenance of India from 2004 to 2007. Experiments were conducted in randomized block design with four replications. Treatments included (i) seed treatment with carbendazim at 2 g/kg seed followed by soil drenching with carbendazim at 0.1% at 35 days after sowing; (ii) seed treatment with Trichoderma viride at 8g/kg seed followed by 2.5 kg powder of Trichoderma viride mixed with 100 kg of vermi-compost/ha as spot application; (iii) seed treatments with garlic (Allium sativum) extract (100%); (iv) combination of i & iii; (v) seed treatment with carbendazim at 2 g/kg seed followed by soil drenching with carbendazim at 0.1% plus blitox 50 (copper oxychloride) at 0.3% at 35 days after seed sowing; and (vi) untreated control. In the treatment iv, the carbendazim dose for the seed treatment was half i.e. 1g/kg of seed). Three years pooled data revealed that the seed treatment with carbendazim at 2 g/kg seed followed by soil drenching with carbendazim at 0.1% plus blitox 50 at 0.3% at 35 days after seed sowing recorded minimum percent disease intensity (PDI, 3.75) and maximum fruit yield (17.50 tones/ha). This treatment was most effective. However, all treatments significantly outperformed the untreated control. Untreated control recorded highest PDI (50.63) and lowest fruit yield (10.95 tones/ha). The results will be discussed in respect to integrated management of Fusarium wilt and sustainable production of round melon.