Experiments on Collar Rot of Gerbera by using Biocontrol Agents and Fungicides in Pot Culture Conditions

A detailed study was done in order to know the effect of biocontrol agents and chemical fungicides under glasshouse conditions against collar rot of Gerbera caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. The pathogen was initially isolated from infected root and a crown portion of Gerbera and confirmed the identification through morphological study. The pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii was mass multiplied in sterilized sorghum grain media, which was inoculated into the potting mixture (laterite soil, sand and compost in the ratio 3:1:1) at the rate of 5 g of inoculum per kg of pot mix. Then the pots were kept in completely randomized design (CRD) arranged in 7 treatments & 3 replications for both bio control agents and fungicides experimentation under glass-house conditions. As a result, T4 was found to be the best bio control treatment and T3 as best fungicidal treatment against Sclerotium rolfsii with enhanced the growth parameters like plant height, root length and no. of flowers of Gerbera.