Investigation was done to understand the biochemical changes and develop ecofriendly management practices for Fusarium fruit rot of banana caused by Fusarium moniliforme. The activities of polygalaturonase (PG), polymethylgalacturonase (PMG) and cellulolytic enzymes (CX) were studied in ripe and semi ripe fruits inoculated with F. moniliforme along with healthy fruit. The enzymatic activities were higher in ripe fruits, PG (41.6%), PMG (38.9%) and CX (32.7%) than in semi ripe ones (33.7, 17.7 and 13.7%), respectively. Total soluble sugars of banana decreased by 11.2%, followed by 11.3 and 11.5% on 6th, 5th and 4th d after inoculation compared to control fruit (18.0%), while total phenol increased by 2.4% followed by 2.7 and 2.7% on 6th, 5th and 4th d of inoculation, respectively, in inoculated banana fruits as compared to control (2.4%). Of the nine phytoextracts (10% conc) screened for their efficacy in vitro and in vivo, cinnamon extract proved most effective in inhibiting mycelia growth and reducing the Fusarium fruit rot severity both in pre- (14.2%) and post-inoculation (13.3%) treatments and it was at par with garlic, piper, ardusi and neem leaf extracts. Of the five homeopathic medicines (200 potency) tested against the mycelial growth of F. moniliforme, Methyl jasmonate was found most effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth and it proved most effective in reducing the Fusarium fruit rot severity both in pre- (11.5%) and post-inoculation (11.0%) treatments, followed by benzothiadiazole. Among nine oils (5%) tested, significantly lower Fusarium rot severity was recorded in fruits coated with castor oil (13.3 and 12.7%), followed by neem oil both in pre- and post-inoculation treatments, respectively.
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