Abstract

For the preliminary screening eighty actinomycetes strains were selected as antagonists against Pestalotiopsis mangiferae, causal agent of brown rot of mango. Actinomycetes strains were cultured with P. mangiferae (dual culture) to determine their in vitroantagonistic ability. 17 strains that strongly inhibited hyphal growth of the pathogens were selected as potent antagonists. Green healthy fruits were treated with the test pathogens and potent antagonistic actinomycetes to determine their effect inhibition of pathogens. These isolates significantly reduced severity of brown rot on mango. Isolates CF-1(1), Dir-10(10), Dir-10(8) and Dir-10(3) reduced the size of the lesion as compared to control. These isolates exhibited disease inhibition of 70 to 89% in the inoculated mango fruits. However, maximum disease inhibition was observed with isolate CF-1(1) and this was the most potent isolate by inhibiting the disease by 89.06% in mango fruit.

Key words: Post harvest disease, biological control, mango, actinomycetes,Pestalotiopsis mangiferae.