Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

IN VITRO EFFICACY OF SOIL YEAST AGAINST SOIL DWELLING PYTHIUM SPP.

V. M. Sali, S.G. Borkar and S. A. Raut

Abstract

Thirty four soil yeast isolates isolated from various agrometereological zones of Maharashtra were tested for their in vitro efficacy against soil borne seedling damping off pathogen Pythium aphanidermatum. The interaction of individual yeast isolate with Pythium was studied in respect of dry weight of the mycelia mat and the anatomical structural changes in mycelium. Some of the yeast isolates inhibited the growth of Pythium and did not allow it to multiply in their presence. The yeast isolate viz. WAJJ-11, WAAB-12, MLAA- 1 and VCGN-5 were found most effective in inhibiting the growth of Pythium whereas the yeast isolates KSSA-2, KRSO-7 and WKAP-2 were ineffective in inhibiting the growth of Pythium. The yeast isolates viz. KTPD-10, WSWB-3, WNSS-9, WAJJ-11, WAAB-12, MLAA-1 and VCGN-5 caused hypertrophy in the mycelium of Pythium thereby inhibiting their growth. Thus it was concluded that the yeast isolates KTPD- 10, WSWB-3, WNSS-9, WAJJ-11, WAAB-12, MLAA-1 and VCGN-5 possesses the biocontrol activity against damping off pathogen.