Screening of biocontrol agents against Fusarium solani causing root rot disease in papaya

Abstract

Research in the past few years has clearly shown that selected strains of the fungi provide an eco-friendly well balanced plant health management system through systemic resistance to diseases of biotic and a biotic nature, increasing seed vigour, improving nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency, enhancement of root area. Fusarium solani was established as a causal organism of root rot of papaya. Use of Bio-control agents is eco-friendly approach and a good option to manage the soil borne phyto-pathogens. These biological control agents either use the mechanism of antibiosis or mycoparasitism against the fungal pathogen. Evaluation of Trichoderma spp. against Fusarium solani showed that all the test bio- agents significantly reduced the mycelial growth of Fusarium solani in vitro. The highest inhibition of growth of Fusarium solani was exerted by Trichoderma viride (native isolate) after 240hrs (76.8%).