Evaluation of different biocontrol agents against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (FOV) under in vitro condition of South Gujarat

Abstract

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is one of the most important fiber crops playing a key role in economic globe. The symptoms of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum is both seed borne and soil borne and colonizes the roots and vascular system of susceptible cotton cultivars, causing root and vascular discoloration, wilting and sometimes death of the plant. As the wilt disease is becoming an important and destructive disease in the cotton growing areas. Here in this experiment, in vitro evaluation of native isolated antagonists were tested under dual culture method revealed the growth inhibition of test fungus (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum) by the test antagonists. Five different biocontrol agents were screened in vitro for the growth inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum by dual culture method and found that all the Trichoderma isolates were more effective than bacterial isolates. Among the Trichoderma isolates Trichoderma harzianum showed most promising results compared to other isolates. The highest growth inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum was caused by Trichodermaharzianum (71.70%). While, the least growth inhibition was showed by Bacillus substillis (47.29%).