Abstract:
Phomopsis fruit rot is a major constraint of quality seed production of eggplant
in Bangladesh. The in vitro experiments were conducted in the M.S. Laboratory
of the Department of Plant Pathology and the field experiment was conducted in
the Central Farm, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207 during
October 2018 to May 2019. A set of experimentation strategically designed to
select the highest disease mitigating treatments for employing in ecofriendly
management approaches against Phomopsis vexans for seed production of
eggplant. The isolated organism causing fruit rot of eggplant was identified as
Phomopsis vexans based on its key characteristics (CMI Description no. 338).
For the management of the disease, a bioagent (Trichoderma harzianum), three
fungicides viz. Companion, Autostin 50WDG and Tilt 250EC, four plant extracts
viz. Allamanda leaf extract, Garlic clove extract, Turmeric rhizome extract and
Onion bulb extract, and Krishibid Organic Fertilizer were evaluated in the
experiment. The foliar spray of Trichoderma harzianum (“Biotech Care
Trichoderma Suspension”) was found most effective in controlling the incidence
and severity of fruit rot caused by Phomopsis vexans, increasing the fruit yield
by 142.05% and seed yield by 146.84% compared to control. Seed germination
of harvested seeds increased by 88.41% over control. Soil amendment with
Krishibid Organic Fertilizer combined with Autostin 50WDG spraying was also
found effective in increasing the fruit yield by 137.39%, seed yield by 142.54%
and seed germination by 93.56% compared to control. Among the plant extracts,
Garlic bulb extract and Turmeric rhizome extract were found most effective in
increasing the fruit yield by 112.16%, 96.93%; seed yield by 112.15%, 100.05%,
respectively over control.
