Abstract

ROJAS, Vanessa et al. Epidemiologycal analysis and control of Sclerotium cepivorum Berk. and white rot disease in garlic (Allium sativum L.). Bioagro [online]. 2010, vol.22, n.3, pp.185-192. ISSN 1316-3361.

The garlic is an important crop among vegetables due to its edible and medicinal properties. Its quality and yield are affected by the fungus Sclerotium cepivorum which causes the white rot disease that can drastically limit the cop yield. The objective of this research was to evaluate the density and viability of the fungus, the disease incidence, and the garlic yield under cultural and biological practices of control using a completely randomized block design with five replications and 2³ factorial arrangement of treatments. The factors were applications of Broccoli (Bro), calcium (Ca) or Trichoderma harzianum (Tri), each at two levels (with or without the factor). The inoculum density and viability were registered at the beginning (IID and IIV, respectively), at day 90 (MID and MIV), and at the end of the experiment (FID and FIV). The disease incidence (DI), disease initiation time (To), and garlic yield (Yi) were also recorded, along with the disease increase rate (b^-1) and the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). Bro, Tri and Ca significantly affected the pathogen and the disease. The crop yield was not affected. The largest reduction of inoculum viability at day 90, and at the end of the experiment, the lowest DI, the largest To, and the lowest b^-1 and AUPDC were obtained in treatments where broccoli was applied individually or combined with calcium and/or Trichoderma, thus showing its potential for using in commercial areas.

Keywords : Broccoli; calcium; soilborne fungi; Trichoderma harzianum.