Given the critical importance of lentils in Indian agriculture and nutrition, and the widespread impact of Fusarium wilt, there is an urgent need for in-depth research to understand the pathogen’s epidemiology, resistance breeding, and integrated management practices. Addressing this challenge is essential for improving lentil productivity and ensuring sustainable pulse production in India and beyond. One of the major constraints in achieving higher lentil productivity is the prevalence of biotic stresses, particularly fungal diseases. The present research was undertaken to develop effective control measures against the disease. Both laboratory and field experiments were conducted at the Department of Plant Pathology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Pure cultures of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lentis were multiplied on sorghum seeds that had been soaked overnight in 50% sucrose and 0.0003% streptomycin. A set of media with different pH levels (5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, and 8.5) was prepared by adjusting the pH of potato dextrose agar (PDA) using N/10 HCl or N/10 NaOH solutions, measured with a pH meter. A pathogenicity test was conducted under net-house conditions using a susceptible lentil cultivar, PDL-1, to fulfil Koch’s postulates. The highest germination was observed with Carbendazim + Mancozeb (97.98%), followed by Metalaxyl and Mancozeb + Trichoderma asperellum. All treatments improved germination over the control, indicating their effectiveness in managing seed or soil-borne pathogens. Among tested treatments, carbendazim 12% + mancozeb 13% demonstrated the highest mycelial inhibition in vitro and was most effective in field trials, significantly reducing wilt incidence and improving yield. These findings can be applied globally to improve lentil production, particularly in regions with similar agro-climatic conditions, enhancing food security and sustainability in pulse production worldwide.
Keywords: Soil-borne pathogens; pathogenicity; fusarium wilt; potato dextrose agar.
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