Antagonistic potential of rhizosphere mycoflora against fusarial wilt of brinjal

Abstract

Antagonistic potentials of seven rhizoshere soil fungi viz., Aspergillus flavus
Link., A. fumigatus Fresen., A. niger Tiegh., A. terreus Thom., Penicillium sp.,
Trichoderma harzianum Refat. and T. viride Pers. were tested against the Fusarium
oxysporum Schlecht. and F. solani (Mart.) Sacc. – the two pathogens, isolated from
wilted roots of brinjal plants. Out of seven soil fungi Trichoderma harzianum was
found most effective to control the growth of both the test pathogens. More than
50% inhibition of the test pathogens were observed with T. viride, Aspergillus
niger and A. fumigatus in colony interaction. The maximum inhibition of radial
growth of the test pathogens was observed with volatile metabolites and cell free
culture filtrates of Trichoderma harzianum. This fungus may be exploited
commercially to control the disease.