Field Management of Dry Root Rot/Wilt of Acid Lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) Incited by Fusarium solani (mart.) Sacc

Acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) is one of the four commercially important citrus fruit crop grown in India among the citrus species. It belongs to the family Rutaceae and genus Citrus aurantifolia (Swingle). Among many soil borne diseases of acid lime, dry root rot/wilt is considered to be a severe disease caused by Fusarium solani which is prevalent in northern Karnataka in acid lime areas. Fusarium solani is primarily responsible for causing dry root rot in citrus, which is one of the most serious fungal diseases affecting citrus. Studies on management of wilt disease of acid lime under field conditions of natural infection revealed the efficacy of different fungicides and bio-agents with organic amendment tested in reducing the disease. Reduction in rotting of roots was highest at 90 days after treatment in trees drenched with carbendazim 50 WP @ 2 g /l (59.45 %). The second highest per cent reduction in rotting of roots was recorded in trees drenched with propiconazole 25 EC @ 2ml /l (53.67 %) which was on par with trees drenched with tebuconazole 250 EC @ 2ml /l (51.96 %). Among neem cake and bio-agent combinations, soil application of neem cake @ 10 kg/plant and FYM enriched with Trichoderma @ 30 kg/plant was most effective in reducing the root rot per cent (36.50 %) followed by treatment with neem cake @ 10kg /tree and FYM enriched with Trichoderma and Paecilomyces @ 30 kg /plant (30.14%). Application of these fungicides can be achieved through drenching and bio-agents through soil application along with farm yard manure which would help in promoting healthy root development.