Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

EVALUATION OF ANTAGONISTS AGAINST THE GROUNDNUT ROOT ROT PATHOGEN SCIEROTIUM ROLFSII

P. Rajesh Kumar, R. Lawrence Xavier and R. Kumuthakalavalli

Abstract

The pathogenicity of Sclerotium rolfsii was tested with three different antagonistic fungi namely, Trichodermo viride, Chaetomium globossum and Gliocladium roseum. Duel culture studies revealed the maximum antagonistic potential of T. viride over S. roifsii and this was followed by C. globossum; G. roseum was least effective in controlling the activity of the pathogen. In pot culture studies T. viride has proved its superiority over C globassum in reducing the pre-emergence and post-emergence root rot disease in groundnut. The mixed inoculation of antagonists and pathogen was effective in controlling root rot disease than pre-inoculation of antagonists and pathogen. Pot culture studies of the groundnut revealed that mixed inoculation of antagonists and pathogen in un-sterilized soil significantly increased its root length, shoot length, number of leaves and number of root nodules.