Eco-safe Management of Groundnut Stem and Pod Rot Pathogen through Bio-Agents and Fungicides under in vitro Conditions

Stem and pod rot caused by Sclerotium rolfsii is a major constraint in groundnut production, particularly under irrigated conditions, where chemical dependence and pathogen persistence in soil pose serious management challenges. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate eco-safe bio-agents and fungicides against S. rolfsii under in vitro conditions. Five bio-control agents were tested using the dual culture technique, among which Trichoderma harzianum exhibited maximum inhibition of mycelial growth (72.30%), followed by T. viride (51.10%). Ten fungicides were evaluated using the poisoned food technique at 100, 250 and 500 ppm concentrations. Azoxystrobin 23% SC, azoxystrobin 11% + tebuconazole 18.3% SC, tebuconazole 25.9% EC and hexaconazole 5% SC completely inhibited the pathogen at all tested concentrations. A positive correlation was observed between fungicide concentration and growth inhibition of S. rolfsii. The study highlights the potential of integrating bio-agents with eco-safe fungicides for sustainable management of groundnut stem and pod rot. Contribution of the study: This study provides comparative evidence on eco-friendly biological and chemical options for managing S. rolfsii, contributing toward reduced chemical load and sustainable disease management strategies in groundnut.