Efficacy of Fungicides and Biocontrol Agents in Combating Anthracnose Disease (Colletotrichum Musae) in Banana Under Laboratory Condition

Anthracnose rot, caused by Colletotrichum musae, is a devastating threat to banana production and causes enormous economic losses throughout the world. The use of various fungicides and as well as biocontrol agents can help to manage the crop. However, five different fungicides, namely., Antracol, Defeater plus, Ridomil gold, Kocide, and Topsin M at five different concentrations viz., 10 ppm, 100 ppm, 200 ppm, 500 ppm, and 1000 ppm were used to check the growth inhibition of the C. musae by food poison technique. The topsin M fungicide at all concentrations (10-1000 ppm) was highly effective, which yielded 85-97% inhibition, followed by Redomil gold 1000 ppm caused 82.11% inhibition of C. musae. Redomil gold at 200 and 500 ppm causes 75.13% and 69.44% inhibition of mycelial growth. In comparison, Kocide at 1000 ppm caused 65% inhibition. Antracol 10-1000 ppm, Defeater plus 200-1000 ppm, and Kocide 100-500 ppm showed more than 50% inhibition of colony growth of C. musae. The lowest concentration of Antracol, Defeater plus, Ridomil gold, and Kocide was ineffective, reducing mycelial growth from 20-40% of C. musae. During the present investigation, three biocontrol agents, viz., Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma longisporum, and Paecilomyces variotii, were used for their antifungal activity against C. musae. The maximum mycelial growth inhibition was recorded with Trichoderma harzianum, followed by Paecilomyces variotii and Trichoderma longisporum.