Abstract

The King Chilli (Capsicum chinense Jacq) is one of the commercial spice crops grown in different ecological condition of Assam and generates high net return per unit area. The crop has great market demand and fetches high price in both domestic as well as international market. The bacterial wilt is the most harmful constraint. The disease is so severe that sometimes farmers have to sacrifice the entire crop. Initially the disease appear on leaves showing small, pale brown water soaked spots on the upper surface of the leaf, which later enlarge and become soft and finally rot and wilt. The organic management of the crops that gives more emphasis on preventive measures rather than curative measures. The organic management of bacterial wilt disease in King Chilli includes establishment of healthy or living soil in the cultivated area, use of good cultural practices and use of eco-friendly antagonistic organism. A fertile and living soil contains a vast amount of microbial population comprising the micro–fauna and micro-flora which make balance in the mineral content. As a result, the crops grown in living soil become tolerant to diseases. Available biocontrol agents either alone or in various combinations plays an important role in suppressing the incidence of bacterial wilt diseases under field conditions. Among different biocontrol agents, the combination of Trichoderma viride + Pseudomonas fluorescens is very much effective in reducing the incidence of bacterial wilt disease