Effect of Bio-Agents and Organics Against Fusarium Wilt of Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) roots are the major source of alkaloids including tropine, pseudotropine and somniferine. Production of Ashwagandha root is less as compared to other medicinal plants because of wilt disease caused by Fusarium solani. The wilt infected plant has fully disturbed and finally whole plant is wilted. Therefore bio-agents and bio-fumigants (crusiferea plants) were evaluated. All treatments were significantly reduced the disease infection from 13.79 % - 90.8 %, 11.08 % - 72.44 %, 15.36 % - 68.48 % and 14.04 % - 61.44 % at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after sowing. The per cent disease control was maximum 90.86 % in Trichoderma harzianum @ 2.0 %. The highest plant growth was observed in Trichoderma harzianum such as plant height (42.87 cm), stem length, (39.52 cm) and root length (12.07 cm). Highest seed yield per pot was recorded in T1- Trichoderma harzianum (1.95 g) which was statistically at par with T5 (1.87 g) and T2 (1.65 g).