EFFECT OF MICROBIAL ANTAGONISTS IN THE CONTROL OF ROOT ROT OF TOMATO

Abstract

Seed treatment with microbial antagonists viz., Trichoderma harzianum, Gliocladium virens, Paecilomyces lilacinus, Rhizobium meliloti and Streptomyces sp., completely controlled infection of tomato roots by Fusarium oxysporum in 30 and 120 day old plants. Against Macrophominaphaseolina the effectiveness of microbial antagonists declined with time and only Gliocladium virens was able to reduce M. phaseolina infection after 120 days of treatment. Higher germination of seeds, fresh weight, shoot length and plant length at all intervals as compared to control was observed in Paecilomyces lilacinus and Rhizobioum meliloti treatments followed by Gliocladium vixens, Trichoderma harzianum and sp.