Integrated management of fusarial wilt of eggplant (Solanum melongena) with soil solarization

Wilt of eggplant (brinjal) caused by Fusarium solani is an ubiquitous and highly damaging plant disease in India. Several fungal antagonists and botanicals were tested for antimicrobial activity against the pathogen under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Trichoderma harzianum and T. viride specifically were found to have reduced the incidence of wilt disease effectively up to 86% and 83%, respectively. Among the biopesticides, preparations of Azadirachta indica and Allium sativum could reduce the incidence of the disease significantly. Soil solarization alone or with low dosages of a fungicide, biocide and bioagent resulted in complete reduction of the pathogen. Soil solarization integrated with applications of T. harzianum, bavistin and neem was the most effective treatment.