Control of Black Rot Disease of Tea, Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze with Mycoflora Isolated from Tea Environment and Phyllosphere

The potential of some aeromycoflora and the tea phyllosphere micro organisms to control black rot disease of tea (causal organism - Corticium theae Bernard) was evaluated. Fungal microorganisms isolated from the tea plantation environment and phyllosphere of 11 clones of tea were evaluated. The fungal genera most frequently trapped from the environment of tea plantation were Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Curvularia sp., Penicillium sp. and Trichoderma atroviride. The most frequently recovered mycoflora from the tea phyllosphere are Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp., Trichoderma atroviride and Trichoderma citrinoviride. Experiment was carried out to assess the possible use of these micro organisms as biocontrol agents against the black rot disease of tea causing organism i.e. Corticium theae under in vitro and field conditions. The aqueous solution of the antagonists which showed maximum inhibition of the pathogen in vitro was applied under field conditions as foliar spray. The percentage symptom and senility index was found to be lowest in the plots sprayed with A. niger followed by T. atroviride and T. citrinoviride, respectively.