Inhibitory Efficacy of Microbial, Botanical and Synthetic Fungicides Against Athelia rolfsii (Sclerotium STEM ROT) of Groundnut and Bambara Groundnut

Solutions for groundnut stem rot by Athelia rolfsii, which accounts for major groundnut and Bambara groundnut yield losses, were investigated. Three in vitro trials were set up to assess the inhibition of the growth of A. rolfsii using microbial, botanical and synthetic fungicides. The radii of A. rolfsii were measured and inhibition of growth were calculated. The inhibition of A. rolfsii by Trichoderma and Cladosporium spp. at 72 hours after inoculation (HAI) ranged between 28-82%. Inhibition of A. rolfsii by mancozeb (100% concentration) was significantly more than the control and the other pesticide rates at 144 HAI. The inhibition by all the synthetic fungicides ranged between 10-90%. Eucalyptus gum, plum seeds, bark of African locust bean tree extracts inhibited growth of A. rolfsii throughout. All plant extracts controlled A. rolfsii with the efficacy ranging between 8-100% inhibition. At 144 HAI, Eucalyptus (100% concentration) controlled A. rolfsii significantly more than all the other treatments, followed by Eucalyptus (50%) and Parkia bark (100%). Parkia 100% controlled A. rolfsii significantly more than other treatments followed by plum 100% and orange seeds 100%. Thus Sclerotium stem rot can be effectively managed using the Cladosporium cladosporioides, Trichoderma harzianum, mancozeb®, team® and plant extracts above.