Eco friendly management of onion (Allium cepa L. var. aggregatum Don.) purple blotch incited by Alternaria porri
Eco friendly management of onion purple blotch
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25081/josac.2025.v34.i2.9943Keywords:
Alternaria porri, Bacillus subtilis, biological control, onion, purple blotch, Trichoderma virideAbstract
The biocontrol agents Bacillus subtilis (Bbv 57) and Trichoderma viride (TNAU Tv 1) were tested in combination against onion purple blotch disease under both pot culture and field conditions. In the 2020-21 pot culture experiment, bulbs treated with B. subtilis (Bbv 57) + T. viride (TNAU Tv 1) (5 g each per kg) and plants sprayed with 0.2% B. subtilis (Bbv 57) at 30 and 50 DAS showed a significant reduction in purple blotch incidence, with a PDI of 15.55, second only to chemical treatments. In contrast, higher disease incidence was recorded in other treatments and the untreated control (PDI: 34.63). Yield data revealed an increased bulb yield of 16.8 g per plant in the same combination treatment, compared to 10.2 g per plant in the untreated control. Similar trends were observed in the 2021-22 experiment. Pooled data from three field trials confirmed that the combination treatment resulted in the lowest purple blotch incidence (PDI: 16.02), comparable to chemical treatments, while the control exhibited the highest incidence (PDI: 32.01). Additionally, this treatment led to a significantly higher yield (8.03 t ha⁻¹) compared to the control (3.25 t ha⁻¹). Hence, the combined application of B. subtilis (Bbv 57) and T. viride (TNAU Tv 1) at 5 g each per kg of onion bulbs, along with foliar sprays of 0.2% B. subtilis (Bbv 57) at 30 and 50 DAS, effectively reduces purple blotch incidence and enhances onion yield.
Downloads
References
Ajuna H B, Lim H I, Moon J H, Won S J, Choub V, Choi S I, Yun J Y & Ahn Y S 2023 The Prospect of hydrolytic enzymes from Bacillus species in the biological control of pests and diseases in forest and fruit tree production. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 24 (23): 16889.
Agha M 2022 Using some systemic resistance inducers to protect onion plants from purple blotch disease. Middle East J. Agric. Res. 11: 638–648.
Al-Ani L K T 2018 Trichoderma: Beneficial role in sustainable agriculture by plant disease management. In: Egamberdieva, D., Ahmad, P. (eds) Plant microbiome: Stress response. Microorganisms for sustainability. Springer, Singapore. 5: 105-126.
Baltzakis I, Nindya S, Rahmayani R, Thomas J E, van der Werf W & Struik P C 2024 Pathogenicity of Single and Combined Inoculations of Alternaria spp. on Potato. Potato Res. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11540-024-09739-8.
Agres 1994 Statistical Software Version 3.01. Pascal International Software Solutions, USA.
Bock KR. 1964. Purple blotch (Alternaria porri) of onion in Kenya. Ann. Appl. Biol. 54: 303–311.
Bigirimana J, De Mejer G, Poppe J, Elad Y & Hofte M 1997 Induction of systemic resistance on bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) by Trichoderma harzianum. Mededelingen van de Faculteit Landbouwwetenschappen, Rijksuniversiteit Gent. 62: 1001–1007.
Chethana B S, Ganeshan G, Rao A S & Bellishree K 2012 In vitro evaluation of plant extracts, bioagents and fungicides against Alternaria porri (Ellis) Cif., causing purple blotch disease of onion. Pest Manag. Hort. Ecosyst. 18: 194‒19.
Chien Y C & Huang C H 2020 Biocontrol of bacterial spot-on tomato by foliar spray and growth medium application of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Trichoderma asperellum. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 156: 995–1003.
FAOSTAT Onion Production, Area and Productivity 2021 Available online: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC
Fayzalla S, Metwally A & Sadat M 2011 Effect of some fungicides, bioagents and essential oils for controlling purple blotch disease of onion. J. Plant Prot. Pathol. 2 : 663-676.
Harman G, Herrera-Estrella A, Horwitz B & Lorito M 2012 Special issue: Trichoderma - from Basic Biology to Biotechnology. Microbiology (Reading, England). 158: 1 - 2.
Itelima J U, Bang W J, Onyimba I A & Oj E 2018 A review: biofertilizer; a key player in enhancing soil fertility and crop productivity. J. Microbiol Biotechnol Rep. 2 (1): 22–28.
Izquierdo García L, Cotes A & Moreno C 2021 Screening for effective microbial consortia against Fusarium wilt of cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana). Bio Control. 66 10.1007.
Izquierdo-García L F, González-Almario A, Cotes A M & Moreno-Velandia C A 2020 Trichoderma virens Gl006 and Bacillus velezensis Bs006: A compatible interaction controlling Fusarium wilt of cape gooseberry. Sci. Rep. 10 (1): 1–13.
Kalsoom R, Haider M S & Chohan S 2020 Phytochemical analysis and antifungal activity of some medicinal plants against Alternaria species isolated from onion. J. Anim. Plant Sci. 30: 454–460.
Khade Y P, Salunkhe S R, Manjunathagowda D C, Sinhasane S R, MahidarGowd T Y, Mahajan V & Singh M 2022 Molecular characterization of short-day onion genotypes by intron length polymorphic (ILP) markers. Genet. Resour. Crop Evol. 69: 2077–2086.
Kareem M A, Murthy K V M K, Nadaf H A & Waseem M A 2012 Effect of temperature, relative humidity and light on lesion length due to Alternaria porri in onion. Asian J. Environ. Sci. 7: 47–49.
Kim Y S, Lee Y, Cheon W, Park J, Kwon H T, Balaraju K, Kim J, Yoon Y J & Jeon Y 2021 Characterization of Bacillus velezensis AK-0 as a biocontrol agent against apple bitter rot caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Sci. Rep. 11(1): 626.
Leta A & Selvaraj T 2013 Evaluation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Trichoderma Species for the Control of Onion White Rot (Sclerotium cepivorum Berk). J. Plant Pathol Microbiol. 4: 159.
Maketon M, Apisitsantikul J & Siriraweekul C 2008 Greenhouse evaluation of Bacillus subtilis AP-01 and Trichoderma harzianum AP-001 in controlling tobacco diseases. Braz. J. Microbiol. 39: 296-300.
Mandi N, Nayak B S, Sahoo B B, Prasad G & Khanda C 2020 Efficacy of novel fungicides against purple blotch in onion (Allium cepa L.) in the western undulating zone of Odisha, India. Int. J. Curr. Microbiol. Appl. Sci. 9: 1970–1976.
Mansha M Z, Sahi S T, Habib A & Ahmed S 2019 Variations in yield and nutritional profile of onion germplasm under the influence of purple blotch disease. Int. J. Agric. Biol. 21: 120–124.
Manu D, Chandrakar A K, Chandrakar C K, Dewangan C K & Talukdar D. 2014. Evaluation of fungicides for control of Alternaria blight (Alternaria porri) of garlic. J. Plant Dis. Sci. 9: 108–111.
Martínez-Medina A, Roldán A & Pascual J A 2011 Interaction between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Trichoderma harzianum under conventional and low input fertilization field condition in melon crops: growth response and Fusarium wilt biocontrol. Appl. Soil Ecol. 47: 98–105.
Miljaković D, Marinković J & Balešević-Tubić S 2020 The Significance of Bacillus spp. in disease suppression and growth promotion of field and vegetable crops. Microorganisms. 7: 1037.
Mishra R K & Gupta RP 2012 In-vitro evaluation of plant extracts, bio-agents and fungicides against Purple Blotch and Stemphylium blight of onion. J. Med. Plant Res. 6: 5840‒5843.
Moon J H, Won S J, Maung C E H, Choi J H, Choi S I, Ajuna H B & Ahn Y S 2021 Bacillus velezensis CE 100 inhibits root rot diseases (Phytophthora spp.) and promotes growth of Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endlicher) seedlings. Microorganisms. 9: 821.
Muhae‑Ud‑Din G, Kalsoom R, Yang Z, Chohan S, Haider M S, Ahmed D & Abid M 2024 Identification of Alternaria species associated with purple blotch disease of onions in Southern Punjab of Pakistan and evaluation of plant‑based fungicides for disease control. Trop. Plant Pathol. 49: 601–611.
Nolla JAB 1927 A new Alternaria disease of onions (Allium cepa L.). Phytopathology. 17: 115–132.
Odoh C K 2017 Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR): A bioprotectant bioinoculant for sustainable agrobiology. A review. Int. J. adv. res. biol. sci. 4: 123-142.
Praveena R, Srekha K, Revathy R, Srinivasan V, Sarathambal C, Priya George, Subila K P & Dinesh R 2022 New rhizobacteria strains with effective antimycotic compounds against rhizome rot pathogens and identification of genes encoding antimicrobial peptides. Rhizosphere. 22: 100515.
Pareek S, Sagar NA, Sharma S & Kumar V 2017 Onion (Allium cepa L.). Fruit and vegetable phytochemicals: chemistry and human health. – 2nd ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell, 1145-62.
Poveda J 2021 Trichoderma as biocontrol agent against pests: New uses for a mycoparasite. Biol. Control. 159, Article 104634.
Ramakrishnan G, Jeyarajan R & Dinakaran D 1994 Talc based formulation of Trichoderma viride for biocontrol of Macrophomina phaseolina. J. Biol. Control. 8: 41-44.
Rangaswami G 1972 Diseases of crop plants in India. Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 520.
Rial-Otero R, Arias-Estévez M, López-Periago J, Cancho-Grande B & Simal-Gandara J 2005 Variation in concentrations of the fungicides tebuconazole and dichlofluanid following successive applications to greenhouse-grown lettuces. J. Agric. Food Chem. 53: 4471-5.
Santoso I, Fadhilah Q G, Maryanto A E & Yasman 2020 The Potency of Bacillus siamensis LDR as biocontrol agent against fungal phytopathogen. Adv. Biol. Sci. Res. 14: 463 - 468.
Shafi J, Tian H & Ji M 2017 Bacillus species as versatile weapons for plant pathogens: A review. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Equip. 31: 446 - 459.
Shahnaz E, Razdan V K E H, Rezwi S, Rather T R, Gupta S, & Andrabi M. 2013. Integrated disease management of foliar blight disease of onion: A case study of application of confounded factorials. J. Agric. Sci. 5: 17-22.
Simmons E G 1999 Alternaria themes and variations (236–243): host-specific toxin producers. Mycotaxon. 70: 325–369.
Thilagavathi R, Nakkeeran S, Balachandar D, Raguchander T & Samiyappan R. 2021. Bacterial community analysis on Sclerotium-suppressive soil. Arch. Microbiol. 203: 4539–4548. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-021-02426-z
Tripathy P, Priyadarshini A, Das S K, Sahoo B B & Dash D K 2013 Evaluation of onion (Allium cepa L.) genotypes for tolerance to thrips (Thrips tabaci L.) and purple blotch [Alternaria porri (Ellis) Cif]. Int. J. Bio-Resource Stress Manag. 4 (4): 561.
Vahidinasab M, Lilge L, Reinfurt A, Pfannstiel J, Henkel M, Morabbi Heravi K & Hausmann R 2020 Construction and description of a constitutive plipastatin mono-producing Bacillus subtilis. Microb. cell fact. 19: 205.
Veeraghanti K S, Naik B G & Hegde K T 2017 Management of Purple blotch disease of Onion under field condition. J. Pharmacogn. Phytochem. 6 (6): 1768–1769.
Vidhyasekaran P & Muthamilan M 1995 Development of formulations of Pseudomonas fluorescens for control of chickpea wilt. Plant Dis. 79: 782-786.
Won S J, Moon J H, Ajuna H B, Choi S I, Maung C E H, Lee S & Ahn Y S 2021 Biological control of leaf blight disease caused by Pestalotiopsis maculans and growth promotion of Quercus acutissima Carruth container seedlings using Bacillus velezensis CE 100. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 22: 11296.
Yao X, Guo H, Zhang K, Zhao M, Ruan J & Chen J. 2023. Trichoderma and its role in biological control of plant fungal and nematode disease. Review article. Sec. Microbe and Virus Interactions with Plants. Front. microbiol. 14.
Yar A, Ullah R, Khan MN, Iqbal M, Ercisli S, Kaplan A, Olana DD, Javed MA, Mohamed EI, Baowidan S, Harakeh S & Moulay M. 2024. Unveiling the germination patterns of Alternaria porri (Ellis) by using regression analysis and hydrothermal time modeling. Sci Rep. 14 (1): 25694. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-76050-4. PMID: 39465273; PMCID: PMC11514278.
Younes N A, Anik T R, Rahman M M, Wardany A A & Dawood M F A 2023 Tran LP, Abdel Latef AAH, Mostofa MG. Effects of microbial biostimulants (Trichoderma album and Bacillus megaterium) on growth, quality attributes, and yield of onion under field conditions. Heliyon 2, 9(3): e14203.
Zhou Y, Yang L, Wang J, Guo L & Huang J 2021 Synergistic effect between Trichoderma virens and Bacillus velezensis on the control of tomato bacterial wilt disease. Horticulture 7: 439.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2026 Rasu Thilagavathi, Muthuram Devanathan, Pasupathi Paramaguru
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
.