Trichoderma and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Based Biocontrol of Fusarium udum Butler and Their Growth Promotion Effects on Pigeon Pea

Abstract

The aim of present study was to investigate the eff ect of individual and co-inoculation of Trichoderma species and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on growth, mycorrhization, population of Trichoderma, and wilt disease severity in pigeon pea ( Cajanus cajan L Millsp). Three species of Trichoderma, namely, T. harzianum (Th), T. virens (Tr), and T. viride (Tv) and consortium of AMF (Myc; mixture of Funneliformis mosseae , Glomus cerebriforme , Rhizophagus irregularis ) individually (Th, Tr , Tv and Myc) and in different combinations (Th+Myc, Tr+Myc and Tv+Myc) were tested. Among all the treatments, co-inoculation of Th and Myc gave h ighest growth and reduced severity of wilt disease of pigeon pea significantly (P< 0.05). Myc alone was sufficient for growth promotion but it was effective in terms of disease suppression when inoculated before pathogen. Fusarium reduced the shoot length, dry weight, phosphorus ( P) uptake of plants, AMF colonization, spore density, and popula tion of Trichoderma . Results clearly showed that different species of Trichoderma produced varied results with Myc. Keywords : Colony forming unit, Hyperparasitism, Phytoparasi tism.