LAUSR

A field study was conducted to screen the integrated disease management practices against branch canker disease caused by Macrophoma sp. In the present study, screening of four fungicides, two bacterial and fungal biocontrol agents were used at 0.05%. Benomyl with Bacillus sp. (DPS, 5.07 cm) found to be superior to copper oxychloride alone (DPS, 1.03 cm) in controlling branch canker disease. Tebuconazole + Bacillus sp. (DPS, 3.14 cm) and copper oxychloride + Bacillus sp. (DPS, 3.03 cm) excelled well. Botanical fungicide of Expel (5%) (DPS, 2.07 cm) significantly reduces the canker size as compared with other treatments. Trichoderma viride (DPS, 1.27 cm) and Trichoderma harzianum (DPS, 1.30 cm) usage in disease management showed the branch canker disease at very low level. The treatment with Benomyl along with Pseudomonas sp. (DPS, 2.73 cm) and tridemorph + Bacillus sp. (DPS, 2.70 cm) exhibits the reduction in the size of canker followed by copper oxychloride with Pseudomonas sp. (DPS, 2.39 cm) and tridemorph with Pseudomonas sp. (DPS, 2.37 cm). Without the usage of biocontrol, Benomyl (DPS, 4.83 cm), higher values of branch canker disease were observed in the control. Thus, management of the branch canker disease with Benomyl along with bacterial biocontrol of Bacillus sp. found to be very effective (DPS, 5.07 cm). In the case of untreated control, the canker size was increased than the treated plants.