Abstract

Use of biocontrol agents and homeopathic medicines in managing plant diseases are now gaining more importance among the farming community as they have no or less harmful effect to the crop health, soil health and do not causes any ecological imbalances. For the combined use of biocontrol agents and homeopathic medicines, six (6) biocontrol agents (Trichoderma reesei, Trichoderma harzianum, Metarhizium robertsii, Beauveria bassiana, Aspergillus niger and Bacillus subtilis) were tested to study the compatibility with the six (6) homeopathic medicines (Thuja occidentalis, Arnica montana, Belladonna, Acidum nitricum, Arsenicum album and Carica sulphur) at 100 ppm and 500 ppm concentration. Among these biocontrol agents T. reesei and T. harzianum were found extremely compatible at 100 ppm concentration of homeopathic medicines. M. robertsii, B. bassiana and B. subtilis were also found to be highly compatible at 100 ppm concentrations. At 500 ppm concentration, these biocontrol agents were found incompatible with 100% growth inhibition was observed. A. niger when treated with homeopathic medicines at 100 ppm concentration found highly compatible and at 500 ppm the growth of fungal colonies of A. niger was also recorded.

Das, P., Dutta, P., Mahanta, M., Raj, R., Thakuria, D., Singh, H., Upamanya, G.K., Heisnam, P., 2024. Compatibility study of biocontrol agents with homeopathic medicines for their combined use to manage plant diseases. Plant Health Archives, 2024, online first.