Efficacy of Pesticides and Growth Hormones against Root Disease Complex of Mulberry (Morus alba L.)

During mulberry cultivation, root disease complex caused by the association of root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) with root rot pathogens like Fusarium solani and Botryodiplodia theobromae poses serious loss in leaf production. Therefore, an attempt was made to assess the efficacy of eight pesticides (Metayalaxyl+Mancozeb, Thiophanate methyl, Mancozeb, Bitertanol, Phenomiphos, Phorate, Thionazin & Carbofuran) and two growth hormones (Salicylic acid and Indole 3 acetic acid) at 0.1 and 0.2% concentrations under in vitro conditions against nematode (hatching of eggs and mortality of larvae) and root rot pathogens (poisoned food technique) for short listing the treatments to develop an IDM strategy. Results revealed that among the pesticides and growth hormones, Carbofuran followed by Salicylic acid were found to be effective at 0.2% concentration against both nematode and pathogenic fungi. Both the chemicals inhibited the hatching of nematode eggs by 83.5-78.9% and 80-76% larval mortality over the control and reduced the mycelial growth of both the pathogenic fungi to an extent of 75.5-77.8%. Though Mancozeb inhibited both the pathogenic fungi strongly (77-80%), it did not show any effectiveness against nematode. The rest of the chemicals were found either moderately or poorly effective in reducing the growth of pathogenic fungi, hatching of nematode eggs and enhancing the mortality of larvae. The two effective chemicals viz., Carbofuran and Salicylic acid, which rated as strong inhibitors against both nematode and pathogenic fungi, can be exploited in developing an IDM package as one of the component for better management of root disease complex in mulberry.