Studies on Fruit Rot Pathogens in Grapes and its Control by Trichoderma Spp

N. Uma Maheswari* and R. Saranya

PG and Research Department of Microbiology, Sengamala Thayaar Educational Trust Woman’s College, Mannargudi - 614 001 (India).

ABSTRACT: Biological control of plant pathogens utilizes one microorganism to eliminate or reduce the disease caused by another. A Grape (Vitis vinifera L) is a one of the most economic fruit crops. The grapes are mostly infected by fungal pathogens. In grapes fruit rot disease caused by Botrytis cinerea and A.niger. The present study was undertaken to isolate and identification of fruit rot pathogens. The T.viride and T.harzianum were used to control the pathogens by in vitro method and compared with chemical fungicide. Among this study T.harzianum showed high inhibitory property against A. niger (52mm in 288 hours) and T.viride (63mm in 288 hours) showed high inhibitory property against Botrytis cinerea. In culture filtrates of T.viride and T. harzianum (5%, 10%, and 15%) were tested against pathogens. The maximum growth inhibition percentage of test pathogens was at 15% culture filtrate of T. harzianum (24.86%) and T.viride (27.10%). In disc diffusion method, Thiophanate methyl was used as chemical fungicide against test pathogens. B.cinerea was produced clear zone within 72 hrs. The A. niger does not inhibited by chemical fungicides. The growth of test organisms in PDA medium with different pH concentrations (4, 5, 6, 7 and 8) were also tested. In that, the optimum growth of test pathogen such as B. cinerea were noticed in pH5 (35mm) and A. niger pH6 (53mm). Application of bio control agent’s was sprayed in grapes to control these pathogens.

KEYWORDS: Chemical fungicide; Fruit rot pathogen; Grapes; Thiophanate methyl; Trichoderma spp.

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