Evaluation of Resistance of Capsicum annuum against Meloidogyne incognita and Sclerotium rolfsii and their Integrated Management

Experiments were carried out to screen resistance of chili cultivars against Meloidogyne incognita and Sclerotium rolfsii and their integrated management by using derosol, cadusafos and Trichoderma harzianum in the green house at 25 ñ 4°C. Primarily, 15 chilies cultivars viz., 28-2010, C-72, Sanam, C-73, Gola Peshawari, 27-2010, Tata Puri, C-302, C-33, C-19, 5-2010, C-68, 11-2010, 18-2010 and 15-2010 were evaluated against M. incognita and S. rolfsii. Two week old chilies plants were inoculated with M. incognita, S. rolfsii separately and in combination as well. At harvesting, roots of C-302 contained significantly fewer galls (30) and egg-masses (51) compared to the other fourteen cultivars. Seven cultivars including C-33, Gola Peshawari, 11-2010, 18-2010, 15-2010, 27-2010 and C-68 had 10 root galling and egg-masses indices (from a scale of 0-10). Hence, present study shows that none of the available chili cultivars are resistant to attack from M. incognita and S. rolfsii.The moderate tolerance was found in C-302 followed by 5-2010 and 28-2010. The most susceptible cultivar (C-33) was selected for further evaluation of management sources. All three management sources were applied individually as well as in combination. After six weeks, all treatments showed better results but there was no significantly difference in set of plants treated with combination of all three (Derosal + Cadusafos + T. harzianum) and T. harzianum alone. Moreover, it was observed that the ability of T. harzianum to manage root rot and knot pathogen enhanced when it was integrated with bio-products. It was hypothesized that direct antagonism and defense by bio-product enhance the resistance in chili cultivars. So, T. harzianum is an efficient biological control for integrated management of chili plants under controlled condition cultivation. To explore the nature of resistance response of C-33 to M. incognita and S. rolfsii further research is needed.