Antifungal Activity of Trichoderma Viridae, Calotropis Gigantea Extract Against Fungal Pathogens of Jute Plant.

Jute is infected by more than 12 types of phytopathogenic fungi. Charcoal rot, anthracnose and Fusarium rot are major jute diseases of eastern Nepal. Hence, the objective of this study was to control three fungal pathogens viz; Macrophominia phaseolinia, Fusarium solani and Colletotrichum species using Trichoderma viridae and Calotropis gigantea extract. All fungal pathogens were isolated from jute field. Occurrence of each disease was checked. Calotropis gigantea extract as well as Trichoderma showed good antifungal activity. In this study, 7% methanolic extract solution of Calotropis showed 43.6% inhibition of Colletotrichum, 38.91% inhibition on Fusarium solani and 37.81% inhibition on Macrophominia phaseolinia. Similarly, Trichoderma viridae inhibited the Fusarium solani growth by 51.33%, Macrophominia phaseolinia growth by 39.50% and Colletotrichum growth by 36.12%. The antifungal activity of Calotropis extract against test and control was statistically significant (p<0.001). It is concluded that biological control agents like Trichoderma viridae, Calotropis gigantea can effectively reduce the fungal phytopathogens of jute and can be used as good alternatives to fungicides in farming