Compatibility of integrated management (chemical x biological, and botanical x biological) strategies deployed against Athelia rolfsii, causing Sclerotium rots

Athelia rolfsii induces severe Sclerotium rots on 500 plantspecies, thus efficient field and post-harvest management strategies for this disease exist. A completely randomized design with three replications was used to set up two sub-trials. Sub-trial 1: Interaction of Mancozeb (all concentrations) x Trichoderma species caused 29.3-100% inhibition and all Ketoconazole x Trichoderma species caused 95.8-100% inhibition of A. rolfsii. Ketoconazole and Mancozeb (main effects) ranged between 23.3-100% inhibition of A. rolfsii. T. virens, T. harzianum, and T. viride (main effects) ranged from 60.3-96.7% inhibition of A. rolfsii. Unfortunately, Ketoconazole inhibited Trichoderma species more than Mancozeb. The chemical fungicides and Trichoderma species were highly positively correlated (0.522**, P≤0.05). Sub-trial 2: The Plant extracts (Ricinus and Eucalyptus species: 100% concentration) x Trichoderma species interactions caused 95-100% inhibition of A. rolfsii. Botanicals (50% concentration) x Trichoderma species caused above 80% inhibition of A. rolfsii. Trichoderma species (main effects) (in environs of 50% botanicals) caused 57-84% inhibition. The results revealed that at 100% concentration, plant extracts completely inhibited A. rolfsii.