Survey, identification and management of Fusarium wilt of banana in Tamirabarani tract of Southern districts of Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu state, Thoothukudi district ranked second in banana production and especially the Tamirabarani tract of Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli districts are known for the production of various banana cultivars like Rasthali, Andhra Kozhi, Karpooravalli, Neypoovan, Poovan, Peyan and Chakkai. Among these varieties, cultivation of Rasthali faces 50-60% yield loss due to the incidence of Fusarium wilt disease. As the farmers have been practising ratooning for 6-7 year continuously which enhances the inoculum load of the pathogen and make the plantains succumb to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc). Studies carried out on different treatments in the management of Fusarium wilt of banana, Trichoderma sp. Tsp1(ALG) showed a maximum reduction of mycelial growth of Foc (72.18%) over control which was on par with Pseudomonas fluorescence 1(Pf1). Under pot culture conditions the combination of three treatments, Tsp1(ALG)+Pf1+ neem cake excelled and showed an 80% reduction of wilt incidence. A multifaceted approach comprising the application of biocontrol agents (Trichoderma sp.) + Pseudomonas sp. 1 (TNAU) and organic amendments was found to be the best management practice in containing the wilt.