In vitro effects of different fungicides (botanicals, chemicals, and bio-agents) on mycelial growth of Sclerotium rolfsii causing betel vine (Piper betle L) foot rot disease in Bangladesh

Abstract Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc causing foot rot disease which is one of the major limiting factor for betelvine cultivation in Bangladesh. In this study, we have evaluated the antifungal activity of medicinal plant extracts, chemical fungicides, and antagonistic fungal isolates on mycelial growth of Sclerotium rolfsii. Among the tested medicinal plants, the highest percent inhibition was exhibited by leaf extracts of Datura metel and Lowsonia inermis L. in all three solvents (aqueous; ethanol and acetone) and concentrations. The chemicals fungicides - Bavistin DF (Carbendazim) and Dithane M-45 (Mancozeb), effectively inhibited the growth of the S. rolfsii. However, at lower concentrations, other tested fungicides were found to be less effective. Among the six biological control agents, Trichoderma harzianum showed the highest percent inhibition of radial growth of S. rolfsii. The secondary metabolites of T. harzianum and T. viride significantly reduced the mycelial growth of S. rolfsii.