Potential control of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) wilt disease using growth regulators, bioagent, antioxidants and essential oils as foliar application under field conditions

The efficacy of some fungicide alternatives as foliar spray was evaluated against bean wilt incidence under field conditions. The fungicide alternatives were indole acetic acid, gibberllic acid, Trichoderma harzianum, vitamins E and C, lemon grass, moringa leaf and thyme oils. The obtained results showed that the applied fungicide alternatives treatments could suppress the incidence of green bean wilt. In the light of the present study, a thought-provoking outcome of the following investigation was reached when the results clearly indicate that 100% suppression of the disease was reached when the bean plants were sprayed with a combination of indole acetic acid 40 ppm + gibberellic acid 40 ppm + T. harzianum 105 cfu/ml. Such an arrest in disease development decreased to 90.5 and 86.4% when the infected plants were treated with indole acetic acid 20 ppm + gibberellic acid 20 ppm + T. harzianum 105 cfu/ml and T. harzianum was combined with gibberellic acid 40 ppm, respectively. It could be hypothetically suggested that combined treatments between growth regulators with the bioagent as foliar spraying might be used practically for controlling such soilborne diseases replacing fungicides treatments.    Key words: Bean, biocontrol, foliar formulations, fungicide alternatives, wilt disease control.