Biological Control of Panama Disease of Banana in India

Banana is the most important fruit in world trade. It is grown both in home gardens for consumption as well as in very big plantations for export. The crop may be grown in monoculture or in a mixed cropping system with vegetables or nurse crop for coffee, cacao, rubber, citrus, areca, coconut etc. The average yield level per hectare in Karnataka is very low. Many factors may be attributed for the low yields, of which one of the important factors may be poor management of pests and diseases. Fusarium wilt of banana is the major disease affecting banana cultivation in India.Generally chemical management of Panama wilt is impracticable and cost involving practice.Hence,in the present investigation ITK measures and bio control agents were found effective for managing fusarium wilt which is economical and ecofriendly.The investiagtions also brought out use of locally available substrates for mass production of bioagents at farm level. The quick and effective method of proving pathogenicity has been standardised.