Pythium soft rot of ginger: Detection and identification of the causal pathogens, and their control

Dithiodiketopiperazine derivatives from endophytic fungi Trichoderma harzianum and Epicoccum nigrum .

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) is a tropical plant cultivated all over the world due to its culinary and medicinal properties. It is one of the most important spices commonly used in food, which increases its commercial value. However, soft rot (rhizome rot) is a common disease of ginger caused by fungi such as Pythium and Fusarium spp. It is the most destructive disease of ginger, which can reduce the production by 50 to 90%. Application of chemical fungicides is considered as an effective method to control soft rot of ginger but extensive use of fungicides pose serious risk to environmental and human health. Therefore, the development of ecofriendly and economically viable alternative approaches for effective management of soft rot of ginger such diseases is essentially required. An acceptable approach that is being actively investigated involves nanotechnology, which can potentially be used to control Pythium and Fusarium. The present review is aimed to discuss worldwide status of soft rot associated with ginger, the traditional methods available for the management of Pythium and Fusarium spp. and most importantly, the role of various nanomaterials in the management of soft rot of ginger. Moreover, possible antifungal mechanisms for chemical fungicides, biological agents and nanoparticles have also been discussed.

Effective management of soft rot of ginger caused by Pythium spp. and Fusarium spp.: emerging role of nanotechnology

Selection of a compatible biocontrol strain mixture based on co-cultivation to control rhizome rot of ginger

A study was conducted to find out the relationship of physico-chemical properties (viz. organic carbon(OC), pH, electrical conductivity, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content) of ginger growing soil with incidence percentage of rhizome rot and wilt disease complex of ginger. Organic carbon content and pH of the ginger soil contributed significantly (93%) in the prediction of ginger rhizome rot and wilt disease complex incidence with negative correlation. Soil having weak acidic reaction with OC percent greater than 2.25 was observed to have the lower average incidence of the disease.

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The Effect of Soil Physico-chemical Properties on Rhizome Rot and Wilt Disease Complex Incidence of Ginger Under Hill Agro-climatic Region of West Bengal

Ginger ( Zingiber officina/e Rosc.), is the second most important cash crop of Sikkim. Diseases are important production constraints and often associated with Ralstonia ( Pseudomonas) solanacearum, Pythium spp., Fusarium oxysporum and Praty/enchus coffeae. Pathogenicity experiments conducted, showed the involvement of Pythium sp (soft rot), Fusarium oxysporum (dry rot) and R.solanacearum ( wilt) and also noticed that, Praty/enchus coffeae increased the severity of infection along with F.oxysporum. From the indirect pathogenicity experiments, the specific chemicals, targeted to particular pathogens ensured the involvement of different pathogens as well as effectiveness of chemicals on control of ginger was diseases. A biocontrol agent, T.harzianum, isolated from Sikkim was found effective in control of ginger diseases substantially.

http://epubs.icar.org.in/ejournal/index.php/IPPJ/article/download/18691/9065

Y. R. Sarma

Papers

Diseases of ginger and their control with Trichoderma harzianum

Endophytic bacteria: its disease suppressive and growth promotive activities in ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.).