Effectiveness of some antagonistic fungi and botanicals against Fusarium solani and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici infecting Brinjal and tomato plants

Abstract

In the present study, the pathogenic fusaria viz., Fusarium solani f. sp. melongena and F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici causing brinjal and tomato wilt were isolated from soil as well as from the infected plant parts. In vitro efficacy of three medicinal plants viz., Azadirachta indica (leaf extract), Psidium guajava (leaf extract), Eucalyptus camaldulensis (bark extract) and three fungal antagonists viz., Trichoderma harzianum, T. atroviride and T. longibrachiatum were tested at 25, 50 and 75% (v/v) by poisoned food technique against both the pathogens. The assessment of fungitoxicity was carried out in terms of percent mycelial growth inhibition against the test fungi. Among different medicinal plant extracts, Azadirachta indica (leaf) was found significantly superior to the rest in suppressing the growth of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici as 100% inhibition was recorded at 50 and 75% concentration followed by Psidium guajava and Eucalyptus camaldulensis on 7th day of inoculation. On the other hand, among different microbial antagonists, T. longibrachiatum against both the test fungi was highly effective and there was 100% inhibition of mycelial growth at 50 and 75% concentration, while T. harzianum was effective against F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici followed by T. atroviride as it completely inhibited the mycelial growth at 75% concentration. © 2014 Academic Journals Inc.