IN VITRO EFFICACY OF SOME FUNGICIDES, PLANT EXTRACTS AND BIO-AGENTS AGAINST Sclerotium rolfsii AND CONTROL OF FOOT AND ROOT ROT DISEASE OF BETEL VINE

Betel vine Piper betle L. is largely grown as an important cash crop in Bangladesh. Foot and root rot of  betel vine is the most overwhelming disease which decreases the production of betel leaf to a great extent. Management of foot and root rot disease of betel vine caused by Sclerotium rolfsii was studied during June to December 2012 in the Laboratory, Department of Plant Pathology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh in completely randomized design (CRD) with 3 replications. Among treatments 6 fungicides, 5 plant extracts, 2 bio-agents and control were evaluated for their efficacy against Sclerotium rolfsii. A remarkable inhibition of mycelium growth, number of sclerotia of Sclerotium rolfsii was achieved by treating with the chemical fungicide Bavistin. The fungicide Bavistin proved to be the best in controlling the radial mycelial growth of Sclerotium rolfsii. Among the eco-friendly approach, garlic clove extract and Trichoderma harzianum showed better performance In vitro compared to untreated control.