Abstract

The present investigation were undertaken to develop an effective strategy for the integrated management of wilt and root rot complex diseases of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), which is widely prevalent in moderate to high severity in different parts of Rajasthan. The pathogens were isolated from disease chickpea plants showing typical wilt and root rot symptoms collected from farmer's field of different chickpea growing areas of Rajasthan. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri (one isolate), Fusarium solani (five isolates) and Rhizoctonia solani (six isolates) were isolated and their pathogenicity was confirmed by growing chickpea in pathogen inoculated soil. The fungicides, botanicals and biocontrol agents found effective in vitro, were further evaluated in field for two consecutive seasons as seed treatment individually as well as in combinations for suppression of wilt and root-rot complex of chickpea. It was found that combined treatments were superior in terms of better germination, lower mortality and higher yield as compared to the individual treatments. The most effective treatment was seed treatment with tebuconazole + T. harzianum followed by vitavax+T. harzianum as compared to control as well as other treatments.