Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF PATHOGENIC FUNGI ISOLATED FROM WATER HYACINTH (EICHHORINA CRASSIPES)

Ihsan Flayyih Hasan AI-Jawhari and Jameelah Wthaij Oogaili

Abstract

To identify the fungi associated with water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [Mart.] Solms), an aquatic weed, which is present in Abu-Zarak marsh- south of Iraq. Three stations were selected for this study . Eleven filamentous fungi were isolated from surface sterilized water hyacinth parts with blight syndrome. Nine fungi were used antagonistic fungi, these fungi were Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. ostianus, A. fumigatus, Penicillium funiculosum, Rhizopus stolinifer, Stemphylium sp., Trichoderma lignorum and T. harzianum but Rhizoctonia solani and Alternata. Alternata were pathogenic fungi. The results showed that significant differences were recorded in mycelial growth of pathogens in presence of biocontrol agent (A. flavus, R. stolinifer, T. lignorum, T. harzianum) when compared with control. The highest inhibition of mycelial growth was recorded for Rhizopus stolinifer against R. solani and A. alternate.