Effects of herbicides on pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) wilt pathogen (Ceratocystis fimbriata).

摘要

Herbicides are commonly used in the management of weeds in pomegranate orchards. These herbicides may affect the soil microflora in the soil. Hence, the effect of herbicides on pomegranate wilt pathogen, Ceratocystis fimbriata, was tested in the laboratory by employing food poison technique. The herbicides atrazine, 2,4-D, glyphosate, oxyfluorfen and paraquat, each at 500, 1000 and 1500 ppm, were used. The maximum fungus inhibition was recorded with oxyfluorfen and paraquat at all the concentrations. Glyphosate was effective at higher concentration (1500 ppm). In another experiment, germination of conidia, ascospores and chlamydospores was tested by mixing with herbicide solutions at 500, 1000 and 1500 ppm concentrations. The least conidial, ascospores and chlamydospores germination was observed with glyphosate, oxyflourfen and paraquat at 1000 and 1500 ppm. In the control, 52.2% of conidia, 34.0% of ascospores and 46.0% of chlamydospore germination were observed. Glyphosate, oxyfluorfen and paraquat were found to be effective against the pomegranate wilt pathogen. Hence, these herbicides can be exploited to reduce the fungal propagules present in sick soil and save the crop from wilt disease.