MUTHU KUMAR, A., SANDHYA, G.M., MAMATHA, N. AND DAKSHAYINI, G.
Abstract
Sandalwood (Santalum album L.) is indigenous to India and belongs to the family Santalaceae. Sandalwood has a high demand for its highly valued essential oil and wood. In the nursery of Institute of Wood science and Technology (IWST), Bangalore Sandalwood seedlings were affected with Powdery mildew disease as the prevailing environmental/ nursery conditions were more conductive for the disease development and spreading. Tricho - K, a bio-inoculant developed by IFGTB, Coimbatore was used to control the disease development. After the Tricho -K spray, the Disease Severity Percentage was reduced from 100% to 54.40 % and in younger leaves disease was not observed. Trichoderma sp. is one of the major plant growth-promoting fungi which have direct beneficial effects on plants by promoting growth, development, productivity, and resistance to abiotic stress. Tricho ââ¬â K showed increased plant growth parameters like, Plant height, Collar diameter, Root length, Plant fresh weight and Plant dry weight in Sandalwood seedlings over the control plants at 30, 60 and 90 days after spraying.