Eco-friendly management of Alternaria Sesami incitant blight of sesame

The performance of two isolates of Trichoderma, two isolates of Pseudomonas and two isolates of Bacillus were evaluated for their biocontrol efficacy and ability to induce systemic resistant against Alternaria sesami causing blight of sesame, which is posing a serious threat to sesame cultivation in north eastern dry zone of Kanlataka. Among two Trichoderma isolates, maximum inhibition was noticed in T. harzianum to the extent of 87 per cent followed by T. viride. Among four bacterial bioagents, an exogenous Pseudomonas Jlourescens (Pf-E) was most efficient with 80 per cent inhibition. Salicylic acid at 1 per cent was found to be effective in suppressing the pathogen and resulted in higher vigour index (1138.28), followed by P. Jluorescens (E) with good germination and vigour iudex e.l 97.75% and 1029.85 respectively. The higher vigour index is mainly due to increased germination, higher root and shoot growth by the systemic resistance inducing agents.