:::: Merit Research Journals :::::::

The root rot of okra (Fusarium solani) was distributed up to 32.09 to 91.14 % in ten different okra growing regions of District Peshawar and Nowshera. The highest disease severity with maximum (91.14 %) percent mortality was reported by isolate NI2 from Garhi Momin and lowest (32.09 %) by isolate NI₄ from Balu. In vitro, all the isolates were observed to be significantly different by their characterization at different pH levels (5.0, 5.6 and 9.0). All the isolates grew well at pH level of 5.0 with maximum colony diameter of 76.73 mm, 1.97 g of fresh biomass and 2.29×10⁶ ml-1 of spore production and at pH 5.6 (77.14 mm, 1.89 g and 2.16×106 ml^-1). The maximum growth among the isolates was attained by isolate NI2 with 96.67 mm of colony diameter, 2.52 g of biomass and 3.23×10⁶ ml^-1of sporulation and lowest by NI₄ (57.89 mm, 0.87 g and 0.76×10⁶). In vitro, Dithane M-45 was found as the most effective fungicide in controlling Fusarium solani (6.87 mm, 0.24 g, 0.09×10⁶ ml^-1) than Aliette (75.20 mm, 1.54 g, 1.54×10⁶ ml^-1) and Copper oxychloride (69.10 mm, 1.55 g, 1.45×10⁶ ml^-1) as compared to control (84.67 mm, 2.18 g, 2.14×10⁶ ml^-1). The isolate NI₂ found as the most aggressive isolate by exhibiting the maximum growth in Aliette and Copper oxychloride amended culture media as observed in control (non poisoned).

Keywords: Okra, Root rot, Fusarium solani, isolates, in vitro and characterization.