Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Responses to Sorghum bicolor (Poales: Poaceae) Tissues From Lowered Lignin Lines

The presence of lignin within biomass impedes the production of liquid fuels. Plants with altered lignin content and composition are more amenable to lignocellulosic conversion to ethanol and other biofuels but may be more susceptible to insect damage where lignin is an important resistance factor. However, reduced lignin lines of switchgrasses still retained insect resistance in prior studies. Therefore, we hypothesized that sorghum lines with lowered lignin content will also retain insect resistance. Sorghum excised leaves and stalk pith Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Poales: Poaceae) from near isogenic brown midrib (bmr) 6 and 12 mutants lines, which have lowered lignin content and increased lignocellulosic ethanol conversion efficiency, were examined for insect resistance relative to wild-type (normal BTx623). Greenhouse and growth chamber grown plant tissues were fed to first-instar larvae of corn earworms, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and fall armyworms Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), two sorghum major pests. Younger bmr leaves had significantly greater feeding damage in some assays than wild-type leaves, but older bmr6 leaves generally had significantly less damage than wild-type leaves. Caterpillars feeding on the bmr6 leaves often weighed significantly less than those feeding on wild-type leaves, especially in the S. frugiperda assays. Larvae fed the pith from bmr stalks had significantly higher mortality compared with those larvae fed on wild-type pith, which suggested that bmr pith was more toxic. Thus, reducing lignin content or changing subunit composition of bioenergy grasses does not necessarily increase their susceptibility to insects and may result in increased resistance, which would contribute to sustainable production.     

Analysis of host plant resistance to multiple Fusarium species associated with stalk rot disease in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

Fusarium spp. is among the largest and most important pathogen groups that attack major grain crops including sorghum. The objectives of this study were to compare the virulence of Fusarium spp. associated with sorghum and examine the mode of resistance of genotypes to the disease. Eight Fusarium species – F. verticillioides, F. thapsinum, F. andiyazi, F. proliferatum, F. nyagamai, F. pseudoanthophilum, F. brevicatenulatum, and F. pseudonygamai – were studied using three sorghum genotypes under greenhouse condition. Three of these pathogens (F. verticillioides, F. thapsinum, and F. andiyazi) were selected for genetic analysis of resistance under field conditions. Sorghum genotypes with contrasting stalk rot reactions were selected for use in both the greenhouse and field experiments. Two weeks after flowering, plants were inoculated with liquid inoculum culture (5 × 10⁴ conidia ml⁻¹) of the different pathogens. Plants were harvested 4 weeks after inoculation and rated for disease severity on the basis of lesion length and number of nodes crossed by the lesion. Among the pathogens, F. thapsinum resulted in consistently higher disease scores in all genotypes under all environments. Likewise, genotype SC599 showed the greatest and most stable resistance as inbred as well as in hybrid combinations as shown by consistently high GCA for resistance to all pathogen species. We recommend that future screening exercises for Fusarium stalk rot resistance utilize F. thapsinum as the causal organism and include the resistant genotype SC599 as a control.     

种衣剂和微肥对玉米茎腐病发生危害的影响

选用8个玉米种衣剂和硫酸锌、氯化钾等两种微肥对玉米茎腐病发生危害的影响进行相关研究。选用适宜的玉米种衣剂品种包衣处理玉米种子,可对玉米茎腐病的发生危害起到一定的抑制作用,茎腐病发病率最高可降低52.83%;合理增施锌、钾等适宜微肥可有效改善玉米植株自身对病害的抵抗能力,玉米茎腐病的发病率呈明显下降趋势,最高可降低56.06%;种衣剂与微肥协同处理对玉米茎腐病的抑制作用总体呈现出效果叠加作用,发病率可减轻63.57%。推荐应用4.23%甲霜·种菌唑微乳剂、450 g/L种菌唑悬浮剂、400 g/L萎锈·福美双悬浮剂等对玉米茎腐病发生危害抑制效果较理想的种衣剂品种。     

Survival of maize stalk borer,Busseola fusca (Fuller), in crop residues in Ethiopia

The importance of maize crop residues, stalks and stubble after harvest as sources of maize stalk borer, Busseola fusca (Fuller) survival during the dry season was assessed in 1984 and 1985 on 50 peasant farms in Awassa (Ethiopia). Residues of various length were examined and the presence of diapause larvae was confirmed in all sizes, but significantly more larvae were in longer stalks. Placing infested maize stalks horizontally for 4 weeks, or sorghum stalks horizontally for 2 weeks, was effective in reducing carry-over populations of B. fusca, so the recommended practice of spreading stalks in the field throughout the dry season or burning them completely to kill diapause larvae would not be necessary in Awassa. In contrast, stalks stored upright in stacks immediately after harvest contained the highest number of live larvae during the dry season and proved to be the major source of carry-over populations.     

解淀粉芽孢杆菌B9601-Y2对玉米的防病促生长效果研究

通过平板对峙培养及盆栽试验,研究解淀粉芽孢杆菌B9601-Y2(Y2)防治玉米小斑病和茎基腐病以及提高玉米生物量的效果。平板对峙培养结果表明,Y2发酵液、无菌滤液及菌体悬液对玉米小斑病菌和茎基腐病原菌均有拮抗作用。盆栽实验结果显示,3种处理对玉米小斑病防效60%左右,对茎腐病防效50%左右,防效依次为Y2发酵液菌体悬液无菌滤液。单独使用Y2发酵液、无菌滤液及菌体悬液处理的苗根长、株高、鲜重和干重均显著高于清水和病原菌对照20%以上,喷施或灌溉接种病原菌的玉米苗生长量显著高于单独接种病原菌处理,有效消除了病原菌对植株生长的影响。因此,生防菌Y2具有用于防治玉米病害和具有根肥及叶面肥的潜力。     

Maize genotype susceptibility to Rhizoctonia solani and its effect on sugar beet crop rotations

Root and crown rot is the major soil-borne fungal disease in sugar beet. In Europe, the disease is mainly caused by the anastomosis group (AG) 2-2IIIB of the basidiomycete Rhizoctonia solani (Kühn). No chemical fungicide to control the disease has been registered in Europe. Therefore, agronomic measures must be optimized to keep the disease severity below an economic damage threshold and to minimize white sugar yield losses. R. solani AG 2-2IIIB infects many other crops besides sugar beet, including maize, where it causes root rot. Sugar beet and maize are frequently grown in the same crop rotation. The proportion of cultivated maize in several European sugar beet growing areas is expected to rise due to a projected increase in demand for renewable resources over the next few years. Although the susceptibility to and tolerance of the disease varies among cultivars in both crops, little is known about the effects of cultivar susceptibility in the pre-crop on a subsequent susceptible crop. The cultivation of R. solani-resistant maize genotypes in rotation with resistant sugar beet might therefore be a useful tool in an integrated control strategy against R. solani, eliminating the need to restrict the desired crop rotation for phytosanitary reasons. A crop rotation experiment with artificially inoculated R. solani was conducted in the field to investigate the pre-crop effects of maize cultivars which differed in their susceptibility to R. solani on a susceptible sugar beet cultivar. We hypothesized that the maize genotype would influence the inoculum potential and performance of a susceptible sugar beet genotype grown after a maize pre-crop, and that this would correlate with the susceptibility of the maize genotype. The results demonstrate that the susceptibility of maize genotypes is consistent over a period of years and that cultivated maize genotypes influenced the inoculum potential measured as disease severity in sugar beet. However, disease severity in sugar beet did not correlate with the disease susceptibility of the genotype of the maize pre-crop. Possible reasons for this missing relationship might be differences in the quality of maize residues for the saprophytic survival of the pathogen or a genotype-specific alteration of the antagonistic microbial community. However, our findings showed that in the presence of maize- and sugar beet-pathogenic R. solani, the most favourable maize cultivar for a crop rotation cannot be determined solely on the basis of its resistance level against Rhizoctonia root rot.     

种植密度对不同耐密夏玉米品种茎秆性状与抗倒伏能力的影响

以耐密性不同玉米品种为材料,调查吐丝期暴雨大风后玉米倒伏情况,分析增密过程中不同夏玉米群体植株形态与茎秆力学变化规律。结果表明,随密度增加,大风后根倒率和茎折率显著增加,登海618的根倒率和茎折率显著低于浚单20。随着密度增加,玉米株高和穗位高增加,基部3~7节间均表现为节间伸长、变细,茎粗系数、穿刺强度、抗折力、压碎强度显著降低,两个品种表现一致。相关分析表明,根倒率和茎折率与节间长度、株高、穗位高和穗位系数正相关,与茎粗、茎粗系数和茎秆力学负相关。站秆率与倒伏率均与基部第3节间性状的相关性达显著水平。与浚单20相比,登海618具有较低的节间长度、株高、穗位高、穗位系数和较高的茎粗、茎粗系数和茎秆力学,抗倒性能较强。     

Conversion into bioethanol of insect (Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky), mold (Aspergillus flavus Link) and sprout-damaged maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)

The bioconversion into ethanol of insect (Sitophilus zeamais), mold (Aspergillus flavus) and sprout-damaged maize and sorghum was investigated. Kernel test weight losses due to insect damage in maize were almost twice compared to sorghum (18.6 vs. 10.7%). All damaged kernels lost some of the starch and increased soluble sugars, ash and crude fiber. The mold-damaged sorghum contained approximately five times more FAN compared to the control. The sprout-damaged kernels contained the highest amounts of reducing sugars prior (11 g/L) to and at the end (146.5 g/L) of liquefaction with α-amylase. Ethanol yields based on the already damaged grain indicated that sprout-damaged kernels yielded similar amounts compared to sound kernels (381.1 vs. 382.6 L/ton and 376.6 vs. 374.8 L/ton of sorghum or maize respectively). The insect-damaged maize and sorghum have reduced ethanol yields compared with the controls (29 and 23% respectively), and this negative result was mainly due to dry matter losses during the inadequate storage. Despite differences in ethanol yield, all treatments have similar conversion efficiencies (76.1–89.9%) indicating the robustness of yeast facing biotic-damaged feedstocks. This research demonstrates that the use of already damaged insect, mold or sprouted kernels is feasible and a good alternative for biorefineries.     

Effect of N supply on stalk quality in maize hybrids

The identification of maize nitrogen (N) response for stalk quality is valuable in stalk breeding improvement, stalk lodging resistance and for use in bioenergy. This study analyzed the effect of two N levels and estimated quantitative genetic parameters for stalk quality in summer maize in the north China plain (NCP). Thirty hybrids were sampled and tested from three to four geographic locations under high nitrogen (HN) (225 kg N ha⁻¹) and low nitrogen (LN) (0 kg N ha⁻¹) during 2006–2008. Compared to HN level, stalk crude protein (CP) was significantly reduced (22.06%) under LN level. Ether extract (EE), ash content (AC), in vitro dry matter digestion (IVDMD) and lignin content (LC) were lower under LN level. Cellulose content (CC), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were increased with a reduction in N, however N did not significantly affect EE, ADF and LC. An increase in NDF and ADF content under low vs. high N level was mainly attributed to a reduction in CC. ADF and NDF exhibited positive correlation and both showed a positive correlation with CC but a negative correlation with LC, IVDMD and CP. Negative correlations between IVDMD and CC, IVDMD and LC, and CP and CC were also detected. The interaction variance of genotype × year × location (σ²_GYL) for each N level, with the exception of σ²_GYL for CC under HN, was significant and most stalk quality traits were evaluated in different locations and years. The estimates of genetic variance (σ²_G) and heritability (h²) were greater under HN, with the exception of LC and EE. The interaction of genotype × nitrogen (σ²_GN) for CP was more important than σ²_G. The genotypic correlation coefficients (r_G) for performance in different stalk quality traits between HN and LN were significant. However, it was necessary to evaluate both HN and LN for IVDMD. For other stalk quality traits, breeding maize under HN levels may serve to develop hybrids well adapted to high and/or low N level. The response to N trend was similar between high oil and normal maize hybrids.     

青枯病对不同抗性玉米自交系叶片生理特性的影响

以对青枯病抗性不同的两个玉米自交系为材料,研究青枯病对玉米叶片过氧化物酶(POD)活性、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、丙二醛(MDA)含量、叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白含量以及电导率的影响。结果表明,接种青枯病菌后,感病自交系黄早四从14 d开始出现感病症状,抗病自交系K12HF526在30 d后才出现轻微感病症状。两个自交系对照组叶片的POD活性、SOD活性和MDA含量表现趋势一致,抗病自交系高于感病自交系。不同自交系对照组的叶片叶绿素含量一致,处理组中感病自交系明显低于抗病自交系,可能是感染青枯病导致叶绿素含量降低。抗病自交系叶片可溶性蛋白含量在接种前后差异不显著,感病自交系接种21 d后显著降低。通过电导率计算伤害率的结果表明,抗性自交系的伤害率远远低于感病自交系。     

Effect of Acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) pre-treatment in inducing resistance against Pythium aphanidermatum infection in Curcuma longa

In vitro experiments were carried out to test the efficacy of plant activator Acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM, a benzothiadiazole derivative; trade name Bion 50WG) against rhizome rot disease of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) caused by Pythium aphanidermatum. The plant activator was applied as a liquid rhizome pre-treatment followed by inoculation with P. aphanidermatum. Cell death, activities of pathogenesis related (PR) proteins such as cysteine protease (EC 3.4.22), peroxidases (EC 1.11.1.7) both soluble and ionically bound (IB), trypsin inhibitor (EC 3.4.21.1) and chymotrypsin inhibitor (EC 3.4.21.4) were monitored. Rhizome pre-treatment was effective in controlling P. aphanidermatum infection. Anatomical observation of turmeric rhizomes indicated the presence of calcium oxalate deposits in infected tissue and an accumulation of starch grains in response to infection by P. aphanidermatum. Pathogen infection also induced new basic polypeptides corresponding to 18.0 and 41.0 kDa. Induction of protease, protease inhibitors, soluble and ionically bound peroxidase activity was observed after ASM pre-treatment and P. aphanidermatum infection. ASM treatment also enhanced activities of proteases and peroxidase in rhizomes already infected with P. aphanidermatum. Increases in enzyme activities and protease inhibitors occurred much more rapidly and were enhanced in P. aphanidermatum infected rhizomes that were previously treated with ASM suggesting that increased activities of peroxidases and protease inhibitors may play a key role in restricting the development of disease symptoms on the rhizomes infected with P. aphanidermatum as evidenced by a reduction in cell death. Hence, pretreatment with ASM suppress the P. aphanidermatum induced oxidative damage through higher accumulation of peroxidases and induced defense through activities of protease inhibitors thereby, protected turmeric rhizomes from rhizome rot disease.     

Cynara cardunculus L. — a new fibre crop for pulp and paper production

The pulping potential of the thistle Cynara cardunculus L. was evaluated by studying anatomy and chemical composition of the stalks and Kraft pulp yields and properties. C. cardunculus is a perennial plant, with annual harvests, that can be grown in hot and dry climates with high productivities. The stalk of the plant has a central pith, ca. 45% in volume and 10% in weight, of small parenchyma cells, surrounded by a cortex where numerous fibre vascular bundles are imbedded. The fibres are on average 1.3 mm long, 18.8 μm wide and have a 4.8 μm wall thickness. The whole stalks have 7.7% ash, 14.6% extractives, 17.0% lignin and 53.0% polysaccharides, mainly cellulose and xylans. The pith has more lignin than the depithed stalk (20.3 vs. 13.6%). The Cynara stalks could be cooked by standard Kraft pulping to produce well delignified pulps with high yields (44–47% with Kappa 11–15), low rejects and very good strength properties, especially in relation to tensile strength. Depithing of the stalks has a positive impact on pulp yield, chemical consumption and on the pulp strength properties.     

玉米自交系和杂交种抗茎腐病鉴定及其间抗性遗传关系的研究

1989～1993年利用当地主要致病菌──禾生腐霉菌和禾谷镰刀菌的新鲜菌剂，采用伤根法对436份自交系和53份杂交种进行了人工接菌试验及其杂交种与自交系间抗性遗传关系的研究。结果表明：同亲缘的姊妹系对玉米茎腐病的抗性表现基本相同，利用含有一个高抗亲本的二环材料不一定能选出高抗新品系来，而应用含有两个抗病亲本的二环材料却易育成高抗系；玉米自交系对茎腐病的抗性与对其它病害的抗性无“拮抗”作用，杂交种F₁代对茎腐病的抗病指数一般表现出优于其双亲平均抗病值；杂交种F₁代对茎腐病的抗感病性多趋向于母本的抗感病性。     

Influence of comb parameters on picking properties for chamomile flowers (Matricaria recutita)

Tools in the form of a comb are generally used to harvest chamomile flowers. The combs can be hand-operated or machine-based. To achieve good picking quality and low losses, the comb parameters have to be optimized. In this paper, the influence of comb thickness (0.5 mm, 1.0 mm and 2 mm) and the shape of the gap between the tines (3 variants) on picking force and remaining stalk length was investigated for German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) under lab conditions. To ensure that the stalks glide along the gap to the ground of the picking blade, the inclination angle was adjusted to be 45° from the blade plane in the direction of movement. For each of the 9 variants, 100 breaking tests were performed. To estimate the breaking force, a specific tensile force measuring instrument was used. The mean breaking strength of the stalks for the investigated 9 variants ranged from 3.62 N mm⁻² to 4.66 N mm⁻². In about 50% of the tests, the comb parameters had no influence because stalks broke outside of the contact point with the comb at the weakest section of the stalk. In conclusion, the picking quality of involved test blades was partially influenced by the thickness of the blade, the shape of the gap between the teeth and substantially by the strength of the individual chamomile stalks.     

Analysis of QTL for resistance to head smut (Sporisorium reiliana) in maize

Head smut of maize, caused by the fungus Sporisorium reiliana, is an important disease in the temperate maize-growing areas worldwide. In this study, we mapped and characterized quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring resistance to S. reiliana using a F_2:3 population of 184 families derived from a cross between Mo17 (resistant parent) and Huangzao4 (susceptible). The population was evaluated for resistance in replicated field trials with artificial inoculation of S. reiliana chlamydospores in Gongzhuling of Jilin Province and Harbin of Heilongjiang Province of China, two hot spots of head smut incidence, in 2003 and 2004. Genotypic and G × E variances for disease incidence were highly significant in the population. Heritability estimates for percentage disease incidence in the 2-location and 2-year evaluation ranged from 0.62 to 0.70. Composite interval mapping on a linkage map (1956.1 cM distance; 9.34 cM average interval) constructed with 84 SSR and 135 AFLP markers, identified five QTL, one each on chromosomes 1, 3 and 8 and two on chromosome 2, accounting for 5.0–43.7% of the phenotypic variance across four environments. One major QTL on chromosome 2 explaining up to 43.7% of the phenotypic variance can potentially be used in molecular marker-assisted selection for head smut resistance in maize.     

Ear rot,aflatoxin accumulation,and fungal biomass in maize after inoculation with Aspergillus flavus

Aflatoxin, a toxin produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus Link: Fries, occurs naturally in maize (Zea mays L.). Aflatoxin is a potent human carcinogen and is also toxic to livestock, pets, and wildlife. When contaminated with aflatoxin, the value of maize grain is markedly reduced. This investigation was conducted to compare ear rot, aflatoxin accumulation, and fungal biomass in maize single crosses with varying degrees of resistance to aflatoxin accumulation and to determine the relative importance of general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) in the inheritance of resistance to ear rot, aflatoxin accumulation, and fungal biomass. Eight germplasm lines with different levels of resistance to aflatoxin accumulation were used as parents of a diallel cross. The cross was evaluated for visible ear rot, aflatoxin accumulation, and A. flavus infection in the grain. A. flavus infection was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays. Both GCA and SCA were significant sources of variation in the inheritance of the three traits although GCA accounted for a greater portion of the variation among single crosses. The interactions of GCA and SCA with years were highly significant for aflatoxin accumulation, but not significant for A. flavus infection. Estimates of GCA effects were highly significant for both reduced A. flavus infection and reduced aflatoxin accumulation for Mp313E, Mp715, and Mp717. Conversely, GCA effects associated with GA209 were significant for reduced levels of A. flavus infection and ear rot, but high levels of aflatoxin accumulation. Mp313E, Mp715, and Mp717 should be useful in breeding programs targeting both reduced levels of fungal infection and aflatoxin accumulation.     

Suppression of Botryosphaeria canker of apple by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Stem brown canker or Botryosphaeria canker disease impairs the growth and kills the shoots, limbs and even trunks of infected apple trees. Apple roots are usually colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which may have a positive influence on plant growth and suppression of diseases. In order to assess the efficacy of AM to suppress the disease severity and plant growth enhancement, nine AMF inoculation treatments (Sclerocystis dussi, Glomus intraradices, G. fasciculatum, G. bagyaraji, G. leptotichum, G. monosporum, Gigaspora margarita, a mixed AM culture and a non-mycorrhizal control treatment) were used in this present study. Two-year-old potted apple plants, maintained under glasshouse conditions, were either pre-inoculated with AMF followed by stem inoculation with Botryosphaeria ribis or simultaneously inoculated with Botryosphaeria ribis and AM. The results indicated that the incidence of canker was less severe in plants inoculated with AMF in comparison to non-mycorrhizal control. Timing of inoculation also had a significant effect on disease development and plant survival. Plants pre-inoculated with mycorrhiza performed better over those inoculated simultaneously with Botryosphaeria ribis and AM fungi. Furthermore, AM inoculation resulted in improved survival and growth of AMF-colonized plants; though, it varied by species of AM fungi utilized.     

Cloning and expression analysis of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) major lignin and cellulose biosynthesis gene sequences and polymer quantification during plant development

In order to apply state-of-the-art molecular breeding techniques in fibre crop it is necessary to have a good knowledge of major polymer biosynthesis gene sequences and their expression pattern. Polymerase chain reaction was employed to isolate sequences of the major genes for lignin and cellulose biosynthesis in a kenaf cultivar. CeSA, 4cl, c4h, cad, and ccr gene primers were designed according to their conservative regions; partial sequences of lignin and cellulose biosynthesis genes were obtained. One actin II gene sequence was also isolated from the kenaf genome as a housekeeping gene to be employed in qPCR analysis. Expression levels of genes c4h, cad and CeSA in bark and core from plants harvested at three different growth stages were evaluated. Using qPCR analyses it was found that the expression levels of the two biosynthesis lignin genes in bark tissues increased during plant growth, while a negative trend was recorded in core tissues. In both bark and core, the quantity of lignin was positively correlated to plant growth while cellulose content decreased.     

玉米秸秆苞叶与茎皮中磨木木质素和木素-碳水化合物复合体的傅里叶红外光谱分析

通过傅立叶红外光谱(FT-IR)对玉米秸秆苞叶和茎皮中的磨木木质素(MWL)和木素-碳水化合物复合体(LCC)的结构进行表征,明确玉米秸秆不同部位木质纤维素的结构。采用改良的Bj?rkman方法,分别从玉米秸秆苞叶与茎皮部位提取分离到MWL和LCC,并通过FT-IR对其结构进行表征和分析。结果表明,两个部位中的MWL组成明显不同,茎皮木质素中的苯丙烷侧链上的支链结构以及苯环结构比重均高于苞叶木质素,而羟基、甲基和共轭羰基结构低于苞叶木质素。茎皮木质素结构中以紫丁香基结构单元为主,而苞叶木质素中主要以愈创木基结构单元为主。两个部位的LCC结构存在差异,苞叶LCC中的羟基含量高于茎皮LCC,甲基、亚甲基含量较茎皮LCC低;茎皮LCC中木质素与半纤维素连接强度明显高于苞叶LCC,因此可推断,茎皮中木质素与纤维素的分离难度大于苞叶。     

Management of fusarium basal rot (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae) on shallot through fungicidal bulb treatment

Fusarium basal rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cepae is an economic disease of shallot. Field experiments were conducted at Debre Zeit during 2006 and 2007 cropping seasons to determine effective fungicides and their method of application for the management of fusarium basal rot of shallot. The field was naturally infested with F. oxysporum f. sp. cepae and treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design in four replications. Five fungicides, Mirage 50 WP, Folicur 25 EC, Seed plus 30 WS, Penncozeb 80 WP and Ridomil Gold 68 WG were evaluated as seed bulb dressing and bulb dip treatments against basal rot in the field and storage. Bulb dressing with Mirage, and dip treatment in Seed plus reduced the disease incidence by 40% and 43%, respectively over control. These fungicides also resulted in a significant reduction in severity, basal rot affected cull bulbs on shallot. Bulb rot during three months of storage on concrete ground floor and on wire mesh shelves was also reduced by seed bulb treatment over control. The highest increase in yield was obtained from bulb dressing with Mirage (42%) and Seed plus (45%) and from bulb dip treatment in Seed plus (44%) over control. Fusarium basal rot caused 45% loss in yield and 12-30% of bulb loss in the storage. The study showed that basal rot of shallot can be managed effectively by seed bulb dressing or dip treatment in Mirage or Seed plus.