Efficacy of biocontrol agents in the management of head rot of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Head rot of cabbage caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum leads to rotting of fully matured cabbage heads in the field. In the present study the antagonistic effects of twenty Bacillus isolates was tested against S. sclerotiorum in vitro. Eight effective Bacillus isolates obtained from studies in vitro, commercial formulations of Trichoderma viride isolate TV-1 and Pseudomonas fluoroscens isolate Pf-1along with a fungicide check (Nativo-Tebuconazole+Trifloxystrobin) were carried further for field studies. Results of field studies indicated that fungicide check of Nativo (1.5 g/L) was highly effective with least disease incidence of 10.36% indicating 74.50% reduction over control. Among the biocontrol agents commercial formulation of Trichoderma viride isolate TV-1 was the most effective showing disease incidence of 11.38% indicating 72.00% reduction over control followed by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens isolate B15 and Pseudomonas fluoroscens isolate Pf-1 showing disease incidence of 13.24 and 13.31% indicating 67.41 and 67.24% reduction over control respectively and both treatments were on par. B. licheniformis isolate B16 was found to be least effective with 20.41 percent disease incidence indicating 49.76% reduction over control.