INHIBITION OF GROWTH OF ROOT INFECTING FUNGI BY VERTICILLIUM CHLAMYDOSPORIUM, AN EGG PARASITE OF ROOT-KNOT AND CYST NEMATODES

Abstract

In dual culture plates assays, the effect of an egg parasite of root-knot and cyst nematodes, Verticillium chlamydosporium on soilborne root infecting furngi viz., Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani andFusarium solani was studied. Culture of V. chlamydosorium VC-Pak isolated from eggs of root-knot nematodes (Zaki & Maqbool, 1993) and VC-10 obtained from Rothamsted Experimental station, M. phaseolina (KUMH) cult. No. 780), R. solani (KUMH cult. No. 774) and F. solani (KUMH cult. No. 660) from the Culture Collection of Karachi University Mycological Herbarium were used. The fungi were grown on PDA and soil extract agar in 90 mm diam., Petri plates and incubated at 25 ± 1° C. There were 3 replicates of each treatment. Both the isolates of V. chlamydosporium (VC-Pak and VC-10) inhibited growth of M. phaseolinaon PDA and SEA and Fusarium solani when grown on SEA producing prominent zones of inhibition R. Solaniwas not inhibited and grew over the colonies of V. chlamydosporium. Similarly F. solani grown on PDA also overgrew the colonies of V. chlamydosporium which has a wide host range amongst cyst and root-knot nematodes can also be used in the biological control of soilborne root infecting fungi like M. phaseolina and F. solani.