Evaluation of Funginil (<i>Trichoderma harzianum</i> Formulation) for the Control of Botrytis Corm Rot (<i>Botrytis gladiolorum</i>) on Gladiolus (<i>Gladiolus hybridus</i>) Varieties

Abstract

Evaluation of the effect of dipping of corms of gladiolus (Gladiolus hybridus) in three concentrations (0.5; 1.0 and 1.5%) of Funginil (Trichoderma harzianum formulation) against Botrytis gladiolorum isolate BG-4 on the growth and yield parameters of White Enchantress and Sheherzade varieties were carried out in pot culture and under field experiments, respectively. The result of the pot experiment on White Enchantress revealed that there was a highly significant reduction in disease incidence in treatment of Funginil over both the inoculated and uninoculated controls. As the rate of Funginil increased the percentage of sprouting also increased whereas the disease incidence decreased significantly. In the field trial, the maximum plant height, number of leaves, number of spikes, rachis length, and number of floret, length of floret and diameter of first floret were obtained with the application of 1.5% Funginil. The height decreased with the increasing number of the leaves, spikes, floret, length of floret and floret diameters as well as rachis length increased with increasing rates of Funginil. These results suggest that Funginil can be used as biocontrol agent against corm rot (B. gladiolorum) of Gladiolus (Gladiolus hybridus) varieties.