Granular Bioactive Formulation of Trichoderma viride and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi for Biological Control of Cumin Wilt Disease

Abstract

umin wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini is the most destructive abundant disease, limiting the cumin production in Egypt. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of granular bioactive formulation of Trichoderma viride (GBTV) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM) for biological control of cumin wilt disease. Ten Trichoderma species were isolated from the rhizosphere of healthy cumin plants and tested in dual culture assay against the growth of F. oxysporum. Trichoderma viride TC40, T. hamatum and T. koningii recorded the highest reduction in the growth of the target pathogen. Under greenhouse conditions, use of AM+GBTV formulation minimized F. oxysporum incidence and increased plant survival percentages. GBTV treatment alone came the second when compared to infected control. The greatest proportional increases in cumin plant growth were elicited by GBTV formulation and/or AM treatments. The highest level of mycorrhizal root colonization was noticed in the presence or absence of the pathogen. The biochemical parameters of the infected plants with AM or by GBTV treatment showed a pronounced increase in the plant content of total phenols, peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase activities. Under field conditions, AM+GBTV treatment highly reduced disease incidence of wilt symptoms and increased plant survival as equal as chemical fungicide. It also improved plant growth parameters and yield. The suggested formula is highly recommended for Fusarium wilt management and yield production of cumin plants.