Gotukola (Centella asiatica L) is a widely grown popular leafy vegetable in Sri Lanka. Root Knot Nematodes (RKN) (Meloidogyne spp.) infestation is one of the key problems which causes heavy losses in commercial Gotukola cultivations in warm climates. A field experiment was carried out in Chilaw (AEZ IL1a) during the wet season (Maha) 2010/2011 to evaluate the effectiveness of the bio-control agent, Trichoderma viride and chemical; Carbofuran (Curator®) on RKN and growth of Gotukola. The treatments imposed were T. viride (CFU 10 11 /ml) incorporated manures (compost and poultry manure at the rate of 2 kg/m 2 ) and recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers, Curator® (1.5g/m 2 ) incorporated manures and recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer. Trichoderma, Curator® (1.5 g/m 2 ) untreated manures, inorganic fertilizers and no amendment (control). The results revealed that Curator® incorporated manures had no significant (p>0.05) difference on the promotion of growth parameters. The combined application of T. viride + compost had significant (p<0.05) impact on plant growth which attributed to increased number of roots, leaf length, stalk length and root length. Highest fresh weight of leaves of first harvest was recorded in the treatment of Trichoderma + compost treated plots. Treatments of Trichoderma + compost had significant (p<0.05) reduction in RKN gall formation in Gotukola. The results indicate that, the T. viride incorporated compost can be recommended as an alternative to Curator® to control RKN and to promote growth of Gotukola.
Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV) is an important plant virus on one of the economically most important vegetable crops; tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). This had not been molecularly detected before, in Sri Lanka. TYLCV-GN-SL was isolated from apparently infected tomato plants using modified Cetyltrimethyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB) method in Gannoruwa. Associated Begomoviruses were detected using Deng 541/Deng 540 and AV 494/AC 1048 primer pairs. TYLCV was detected for the first time in tomato in Sri Lanka using P1V/P4C, TYLCV specific primer pair. Nucleotide sequence of coat protein of isolated TYLCV-GN-SL proved that the Indian strain of ToLC virus was closely related to Tomato Leaf Curl Sri Lanka Virus (TLCV-SL: 97%) and Tomato leaf curl Geminivirus (TLCGV: 93%) through direct sequencing data. TLCV-SL was confirmed as TYLCV isolate. TYLCV was molecularly detected from major tomato growing districts like Badulla, Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy and Matale in Sri Lanka.
Neolitsea cassia, a tree species, belongs to family Lauraceae, is endemic to Sri Lanka. Few planted trees of Neolitsea cassia were severely affected by wilt disease. Two fungal pathogens were consistently isolated from collar region and roots of symptomatic trees. These two fungal species were identified as Colletotrichum and Pestalotiopsis by microscopic observations of conidia and culture characters of isolates on PDA. This is the first report of Colletotrichum and Pestalotiopsis species causing tree wilting of Neolitsea cassia in Sri Lanka. Application of 25 l of fungicide, Thiram + Thiophanate Methyl, 50+30% WP (Homai) solution (1g/l) around the base of each infected plant as a soil drenching was effectively controlled wilting of Neolitsea cassia caused by both pathogenic fungi.
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