DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2019.v07i12.005

Pages: 482-489

A series of experiments were carried out in laboratory and field to find out the comparative performance of Trichoderma at different combinations to establish an eco-friendly management of anthracnose disease of chilli caused by Colletotrichum capsici. Twenty isolates of Trichoderma harzianum was screened following dual plate technique on PDA against C. capsici isolate CA-2. In-vitro studies clearly showed that T. harzianum isolate Pb-7 had the ability to inhibit the highest radial mycelial growth of the tested pathogen. Pre- and post-emergence mortality of plants due to anthracnose disease were significantly reduced after seed treated with spore suspension of T. harzianum isolate Pb-7 and field treated with bio-fortified composted poultry refuge. The lowest anthracnose disease incidence and severity was recorded in the treatment T8 where seed treated with spore suspension of T. harzianum isolate Pb-7 and field treated with bio-fortified composted poultry refuge. The highest disease incidence and severity was recorded in control-2 (T2) where soil inoculated with C. capsici followed by untreated control-1 where no treatments were given. The maximum reduction of the seedling mortality (76.92%), disease incidence (73.71%), severity (78.87%), plant height (63.4 cm) and the highest yield (5.00 tha-1) were recorded in the treatment T8 where seed were treated with spore suspension of T. harzianum isolate Pb-7 and field treated with bio-fortified composted poultry refuge.