Integrated Disease Management Strategies for Fusarium Wilt in Lentil (Lens culinaris)

Abstract

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lentis, is an important constraint to lentil production. This study evaluated the cultural requirements of the pathogen and the efficacy of selected chemical, botanical and biological treatments under laboratory, net-house and field conditions at Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The pathogen was isolated from wilt-affected lentil plants and maintained on potato dextrose agar. Pathogenicity was confirmed on the susceptible cultivar PDL-1 by fulfilling Koch’s postulates. Mycelial growth and sporulation were assessed on different media and across temperature and pH regimes. Treatment efficacy was evaluated in vitro and under field conditions using germination, disease incidence, disease control and yield as response variables. Oatmeal agar supported the greatest colony diameter (89.57 mm) and excellent sporulation. Maximum growth at the tested temperatures occurred at 30°C (91.00 mm), while pH 6.0 supported the greatest growth among the evaluated pH levels. Carbendazim 12% + mancozeb 13% produced the highest in vitro mycelial inhibition (79.116%). Under field conditions, this treatment also recorded the highest germination (97.98%), the lowest disease incidence (14.25%), the greatest disease control over the control (43.98%) and the highest yield (11.503 q/ha). Metalaxyl and the other tested treatments also reduced wilt incidence relative to the untreated control. These findings support an integrated approach combining effective chemical and biological options for managing lentil wilt under comparable agro-climatic conditions.