The occurrence of diseases are one of the most constraint in vanilla cultivation. The important diseases are the stem rot disease (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vanillae), shoot rot (Phytophthora capcisi), Sclerotium rot (Sclerotium rolfsii) and anthracnose (Collectotrichum gloeosporioides)., however, the stem rot is the most dangerous one.
Since high degree of host resistance to the stem rot is not available at present, crop losses are severe under poor management. Stem rot disease (SRD) is a contagious disease, it is soil and air borne and the fungus can produce chlamydospores so it can endure bad conditions although without a host. The disease may attack every part of vanilla plant, however, the disease is mostly found on the stem.
The spore is a slimy spore and can easily stick on plant parts, cuttings, particle of soil., and agricultural equipments . Successful management of the stem rot disease, according to Tombe 2008 can be conducted by applying the BioFOB technique. The technique involves four factors, which are :
1) Plant material (Seedling of Bio-FOB vanilla) : Free and tolerant seedling to SRD that is produced by using non-pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum (FoNP). This microbe has function to induce system of vanilla tolerant to SRD and stimulates rooting. This microorganism is isolated from rhizosphere and plant tissue of healthy vanilla . Results of pathogenicity test and analysis of VCG (Vegetatif Compatibility Group) showed that isolate is not pathogenic to vanilla plant. FoNP has a lot of been reported can induce system of plant resistance by the increase of activity several certain enzymes in system of plant metabolism namely β-1,4 glucosidae, β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase. The amount of 15 isolates of FoNP has been succesfully isolated and purifed and one of isolates i.e. FoNP strain F10-AM consistently produce high effectivity. That strain then used to produce 3 kinds of FoNP formula (Figure 1), Bio-FOB EC (liquid), Bio-FOBWP (powder), Organic-FOB (organic materials).
2. Biological agent and organic matter. The Bacillus pantotkenticus and Trichoderma lactae are antagonistic to F. oxysporum f. sp. vanillae. These microbes decompose organic matter and have also growth promoting effects on plant development . The two microbes are formulated under the name Bio-TRIBA. Bio-TRIBA can be mixed with compost or manure, with a dosage of 2 – 3 l Bio-TRIBA/1ton compost or manure and incubated for 1 – 2 weeks before using it. Bio-TRIBA can also be applied by pouring it out at the roots area of vanilla with a dosage of 5 – 10 ml Bio-TRIBA/1 l water, preferable after organic fertilizer is applied.
3) Botanical Fungicide of Mitol 20 EC : Formula that contains active ingredients of eugenol that were extracted from clove and plants. This compound of eugenol from clove is toxic to several plant pathogens among other R. lignisus, R. solani, F. oxysporum, F. solani,Pythium and S. rolfsi is included pathogen of Stem rot disease of vanilla and contaminant fungi on post harvest such as Aspergillus and Penicillium . Plant materials of vanilla infected by the disease are cut, and the wounds smeared with Mitol 20 EC, using a cotton stuff. The botanical fungicide can be applied with a dosage of 3 – 5 ml / l.
4. Organic Fertilizer (Organo-TRIBA). Compost that is processed from selected organic waste from experiment results by using B. Pantotkenticus,T. lactae and B. firmus as biodecomposer. Organo TRIBA contains several useful microorganisms among others Bacillus, Trichoderma, P. fluorescens and Penicillium. Those microorganisms have roles of the increase of health and plant production. Extract of organo-TRIBA compost can be pesticidal on several fungi of soil borne pathogen.
