Pre-harvest foliar application of bio-resources: A strategy to reduce post-harvest losses in garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Abstract

Abstract Evaluation of different bio-resources, as pre-harvest foliar sprays on the three predominant major diseases of garlic (basal plate rot, purple blotch and Stemphylium blight) in vitro and in field conditions and management of pathological and physiological losses in the storage were undertaken during 2020-21 on cultivar “Solan Selection”. Amongst different bio-resources cow urine recorded maximum mycelial inhibition (63.01%, 93.20% and 92.22%) in vitro and maximum disease reduction under field conditions (15.83%, 22.00% and 5.73%) achieved in three fungi, respectively. Cow urine, lemon grass and darek in general enhanced the growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, bulb yield and bulb number to maximum level. Under storage period of 3 months bio-resources treated bulbs with cow urine and darek were most effective in reducing the storage rot (13.89% and 14.92%) and the frequency of storage pathogens was recorded minimum in cow urine and bougainvillea (4.82% and 5.16%) for Fusarium oxysporum, darek and cow urine (2.59% and 3.25%) for Aspergillus niger, nirgundi (1.01%) for Penicillium allii and cow urine and darek (5.56 and 6.17%) for bacterial rot while physiological losses in the form of hollow bulbs were recorded to be managed by most of the bio-resources and percentage of hollow bulbs ranged between 7.78–13.34%, disintegrated bulbs were recorded minimum in cow urine and darek (1.11% and 2.22%) while minimum per cent weight loss was observed in darek (20.26%) after 3 month storage period.